Almost every school in Swansea will be affected next week as teachers and staff strike over pay and conditions. Thousands of teachers and staff are walking out in a strike by members of the National Education Union Cymru (NEU) on Wednesday, February 1 with further strikes planned for February 14, March 15 and 16.
Teachers in Wales have branded the Welsh Government’s 5% pay offer an insult and say years of underfunding has led to a staff recruitment and retainment crisis. Unions are calling for a pay increase closer to inflation, which is currently over 10%.
The Welsh Government has offered staff a one-off payment in addition to the 5% offer, which unions say is unlikely to prevent the strikes. Widespread school closures are expected on Wednesday, although it is up to schools and their local authority to decide whether or not to close.
