The Association of School and College Leaders, for the first time
in its history, will hold a formal ballot for national strike
action in England over the school funding crisis, the erosion of
teacher and leader pay and conditions, and consequent staff
shortages which are undermining the education system.
The association has endeavoured to resolve the matter through
negotiation but the government made an offer to settle the
dispute in March which was completely inadequate and was rejected
by 87% of eligible members on a turnout of 56%.
Late yesterday afternoon, ASCL’s Executive Committee of senior
elected members met to discuss next steps and unanimously decided
to move to a formal ballot on strike action. The ballot will be
held during the summer term at a date yet to be decided and, if
members vote for strike action, we expect that this would take
place during the autumn term.
Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and
College Leaders, said: “ASCL has never before formally balloted
at a national level and this is clearly a very significant step.
The fact that we have reached this point reflects the desperate
situation regarding inadequate funding, long-term pay erosion,
teacher shortages, and the intransigence of a government which we
can only conclude does not value the education workforce or
recognise the severe pressures facing the sector.
“We have made every effort to resolve this matter through
negotiations prior to reaching this point. Unfortunately, the
government’s offer has failed to sufficiently address pay and
conditions, and, critically, did not provide enough funding for
even the meagre proposal it put forward. Following the rejection
of the offer by all education unions involved – ASCL, NAHT, NEU
and NASUWT – the government has made no effort to reopen
negotiations and has said only that the issue of pay will now
revert to the School Teachers’ Review Body.
“The conclusion of the Executive Committee is that the government
has left us with no option other than to conduct a formal ballot
for national strike action.
“This action is taken as a last resort and with a heavy heart,
but we cannot accept the continued damage to education caused by
government neglect and complacency.”
