The Association of School and College Leaders is halting its
ballot on strike action in England after members voted in favour
of accepting the government’s offer on teacher pay and funding
for 2023/24.
The ballot was launched on June 19 over the erosion of pay and
conditions, teacher shortages and the inadequacy of school
funding. It is the first time in the 150-year history of the
association that it has launched a national ballot on industrial
action. The ballot was due to close on 31 July.
Last week, the government offered an increase of 6.5% from
September 2023 to teacher pay supported by a grant intended to
cover full costs above the first 3.5% and a hardship fund of up
to £40 million to support schools facing the most difficult
financial circumstances.
ASCL Executive recommended acceptance of the offer and a
consultation of members was held between Monday and Thursday of
this week. The result was 87% in favour of accepting the offer,
with 13% against, on a turnout of 46% of eligible members.
Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and
College Leaders, said: “The strength of feeling demonstrated by
holding our industrial action ballot, alongside similar action by
colleagues in other education unions, has been instrumental in
achieving the settlement to this dispute.
“We are confident we would have achieved the 50% turnout
threshold set out in the legislation had the ballot run its
course to 31 July and if there had been no government pay offer.
Indeed, the turnout as of yesterday was 47%.
“While the settlement is a step in the right direction, it is not
sufficient on its own to address the crisis in teacher
recruitment and retention or the funding pressures being
experienced by schools and colleges.
“It is of critical importance that this settlement is the
starting point and that there is an ongoing commitment from the
government to provide the resources and investment needed to
ensure the sustainability of the education sector and its
capacity to deliver the quality of education and support that all
children and young people need and deserve.
“We will continue to press the government for action on these
issues in the future and, while we hope that it will not again be
necessary to initiate a ballot for industrial action, this is
something that we are prepared to do as a last resort in order to
secure a fair deal for education.
“However, our first recourse is always to find solutions through
discussion and negotiation and we look forward to working with
the government in this way, as we have always sought to do, in
the future.”
