The biggest teacher’s union in the UK has announced that 86% of members responded to an initial ballot saying they were willing to strike.
This comes after negotiations between the government and the major teaching unions broke down over teacher pay.
Sandra Smith, teacher at Queen Anne’s school, in Reading, is a member of the National Education Union and feels that striking now is the last resort.
She said: “No teachers want to strike but it seems like the only option.
“All I want is the government to listen to us for once.”
Since 2010, teacher’s wages have fallen in real terms by over 10% and the government has yet to offer a pay rise that matches that fall.
Sandra believes that teachers have been taken for granted. She said: “The workforce is exhausted.
“School budgets have not gone up and it’s left the education system on its knees.
“I think that things have come to a head for teachers. It’s creating a perfect storm for strikes.”
Stacey Bell, geography teacher at Kings Academy Prospect also intends to strike if changes are not delivered by the government.
She said: “This is a chance to raise the issues that have affected teachers across the country for years.
“Our pay is not reflective of the time and energy that goes into this job. We are paid too little for so much responsibility.”
Other unions including the biggest teacher’s union in Scotland have also announced their intentions to put a vote to their members asking about strikes.
Stacey talked about what this might mean for children in schools if these strikes happen. She said: “We are being told not to set cover work so it’s likely it will be a day off school.
“Some kids might see this as a day away from school, but I want them to understand that we are doing this to help them
“We want to get the best conditions possible for them to achieve as much as possible.”
More teaching unions will be asking their members to vote over the next few months with strikes possible by January.
