Teachers' Union Plans Autumn Strikes If Pay Not Increased

Britain's largest education union, the National Education Union (NEU), has warned it is prepared to launch strike action and campaign against Labour MPs if teachers do not receive an improved and fully-funded pay offer this year. NEU General Secretary Daniel Kebede criticized the current 2.8% pay recommendation as inadequate, arguing that it fails to address ongoing crises in teacher recruitment and retention. Delegates at the NEU's annual conference voted to proceed with a formal strike ballot if the final outcome of the School Teachers' Review Body process is unsatisfactory or if real-terms funding increases are not announced in the June spending review. Kebede emphasized that the union stands ready to act industrially, promising to target Labour MPs in their constituencies through campaigns with parents if their demands are not met. The union also called for salary caps on academy trust CEOs, criticizing high executive pay amid funding shortages and staff departures in schools. This escalation marks a significant shift for the NEU, which has previously focused its campaigns primarily on Conservative governments.