Teachers in England and Wales are staging the first of seven planned walk-outs today (February 1) in a dispute over pay. Some schools in the Bristol area are closed as a result and a rally will be held in the city centre as part of a national day of action to protect the right to strike.
The actions come after members of the National Education Union (NEU) voted to strike following a lack of progress during last-ditch talks with the government. Union leaders said Education Secretary Gillian Keegan squandered the opportunity to avert the strike action. The Department for Education guidance said headteachers are expected to take all reasonable steps to keep schools open for as many pupils as possible”.
More than 23,000 schools could be affected in England and Wales and while Wednesday’s action will go ahead, it's reported that more talks are set to take place before further strikes on February 28 in hopes the government will have a solution to meet teachers’ demands.
