Education Secretary has written an open letter
to parents setting out the latest on teacher strikes.
Dear parents and carers,
I’m writing to update you ahead of the strike action planned
by the National Education Union on Wednesday and Thursday this
week.
This industrial action will mean more disruption to children’s
education and to your lives too – whether that’s work, arranging
childcare, or changing
other plans.
I am extremely disappointed that many young people will once
again miss invaluable time learning with their teachers and
friends, particularly after their education was significantly
disrupted during the pandemic.
It is made worse by the fact that this strike action is
completely unnecessary. As I said to the NEU three weeks ago, I
want to get around the table and engage in serious talks on
teachers’ pay and other issues to resolve disputes.
My only condition was that strike action is
paused so those discussions can take place in good faith and
without disruption.
This was the same offer, and the same condition, made to unions
representing nurses, ambulance workers and physiotherapists.
Those unions accepted that offer, paused their strikes and are
now negotiating on behalf of their members in private.
The NEU instead seems focused on strikes and all the needless
disruption that brings.
This morning I have written to the unions again to invite them to
have those talks on Wednesday and Thursday this week – all they
need to do is call off strikes which are unnecessary and benefit
no one.
The single best thing the NEU could do for both its members and
for children and young people would be to sit down and talk about
pay.
I will continue doing everything I can to end the disruption your
family is facing as quickly as possible, particularly because I
know exams for older pupils are coming up fast.
I hope any arrangements you make this week mean that pupils’
education can continue – even if not in the classroom – and that
the next time I write it will be with news that this disruption
has been brought to an end.
Yours sincerely,
The Rt Hon MP
Secretary of State for Education
You may also be interested in:
