Shropshire teachers set for strike action
Teachers across Shropshire are to take part in a walkout next month, with the aim of closing "as many schools as possible".
And a national strike is expected before Christmas, the country's two biggest teaching unions announced today.
Teachers in Shropshire will join colleagues across the Midlands, the east of England and Yorkshire in striking on October 1.
It means thousands of pupils will be given a day off, forcing working parents to make other arrangements for their children.
A date has not been set for the national strike with the unions today urging the Government to hold talks over pay, pensions and workloads.
Teachers have accused the Government of "reckless and irresponsible behaviour" and say that Education Secretary Michael Gove will only engage in "megaphone diplomacy".
But Mr Gove today hit back at the NUT and NASUWT, declaring there was "no excuse" for strikes and accusing union leaders of attacking teaching.
Today's announcement was timed to coincide with the start of the new term, with teachers returning to work after a six-week summer break.
Under reforms, set to come into effect this autumn, teachers' pay will be linked to performance in the classroom and schools will set salaries rather than follow a national framework. Changes have also been made to public sector pensions.
John Allison, NASUWT national executive member for Shropshire, said: "Shropshire will be involved in the October 1 strike and we hope to close as many schools as possible. The NASUWT and the NUT account for 85 per cent of the teaching force.
"It is not something we are entering into lightly, but we need to get Michael Gove to the table."
Mr Allison said teachers had grave concerns over the new pay and conditions document, claiming 64 per cent of members did not trust their headteacher to make a fair judgement over pay.
Christine Hargest, the NUT's divisional secretary for Shropshire, said meetings to discuss the planned national strike would be held in Bridgnorth, Shrewsbury, Market Drayton, Oswestry and Ludlow.
She said: "Until we have had those meetings, I can't speak for my members. But I think teachers are snowed under with so many new initiatives all the time."
A Department for Education spokesman said today: "It is disappointing that the NUT and NASUWT are striking over the Government's measures to allow heads to pay good teachers more.
"In a recent poll, 61 per cent of respondents supported linking teachers' pay to performance and 70 per cent either opposed strikes or believed teachers should not be allowed to strike."
The planned strikes in Shropshire will be followed by further action in London and the North East on October 17.
