The largest teaching union in the United Kingdom “will make work parliamentarians pay a high political price” if the government does not offer teachers in England a salary increase above inflation fully financed, said its secretary general.
Daniel Kebede said that the members of the National Education Union (NEU) “expect better of a Labor Government” of what the payment recommendation ministers have done.
He said that Neu members would campaign in Labor Constitts if they did not change, and “are ready to attack.”
The Secretary of Education, Bridget Phillipsson, said that “any movement towards industrial action by teaching unions would be indefensible.”
The government has recommended a 2.8% salary increase for teachers in England and expects most schools to need to make “efficiencies” to finance it.
The NEU agrees on its conference in Harrogate this week that would hold a formal vote on the strike if the sacrifice is still “unacceptable”, or no additional financing is announced.
Phillipson has said: “With school staff, parents and young people who work so hard to change the course of school attendance, any movement towards industrial action by teaching unions would be indefensible.
“After a 5.5% payment award in a greatly challenging fiscal context, I urge Neu to put the children first.”
Responding to his comments, Kebede told the conference that he was “indefensible for a Labor Government, a Labor Government, reduce school financing.”
“After 14 years of conservative austerity, we expect better from a Labor Government,” he said.
He said that the final payment award must be above inflation and full time, representing a “correction” or salary of teachers and helping to recruit and retain the staff, otherwise “we are ready to act with the labor.”
“We will make work parliamentarians pay a high political price through our campaigns in their voters, with our parents, in this country,” he said.
“No teacher wants to attack, but we are ready.”
Kebede accused the government of a “betrayal” when it comes to educational financing.
Kebede also commented on a row with the reform leader UK Nigel Farage on Tuesday after the reform of Nebrand UK a “racist and extreme right” party.
Duration The clash, Mr. Kebede called Farage a “right -wing populist”, but did not describe him as a racist, while Farage promised to “go to war” with the teaching unions if he won the next general elections.
On Thursday, Kebede told Neu members that Farage “knows nothing about education.”
“And although this government could be deploying the red carpet so that Nigel Farage walks towards no 10, through its austerity agenda, we did not do it,” he said.
