Head teachers back national strike action over pensions

The National Association of Head Teachers could join a major public sector walk-out over pensions on November 30.?Photo: PA

Almost every state school in England and Wales faces being shut after senior staff joined classroom unions by supporting an unprecedented walk-out over pension reforms.

Members of the National Association of Head Teachers voted in favour of industrial action on Wednesday amid claims that the Government’s plans would leave them working longer, paying more and receiving less when they retire.

More than three-quarters of those who took part in the ballot supported the strike – the first walk-out in its 114-year history.

Head teachers are now likely to take part in the TUC’s national day of action on November 30.

They would join a wave of other public sector unions by taking part in the action. This includes three representing teachers – the National Union of Teachers, the Association of Teachers and Lecturers and the University and College Union.

A fifth classroom union – the NASUWT – is expected to vote in favour of the strike next week.

The move would almost certainly result in the biggest co-ordinated teachers’ strike in history and lead to the possible closure of every state school and college.

It could also lead to hundreds of private schools, which are well staffed by union members, shutting their doors.

The action is likely to cause chaos for parents who will be forced to pay for childminders or take the day off work to look after sons and daughters.

Speaking today, Russell Hobby, the NAHT general secretary, said the ballot represented an "unhappy milestone".

"I have spoken at length to many school leaders and not one has been anything other than upset and sometimes downright angry that they have been forced into this situation as the only way to stand up for the profession and standards,” he said.

The NAHT's 28,000 members have not been officially been called out yet and the union’s national executive will now consider its next move, although it is likely that they will back co-ordinated public sector action on November 30.

Mr Hobby said the union would “like to avoid action if at all possible and will be negotiating intensely and in good faith in the run up to the 30th".

But he added: "The proposed cuts are unfair, ill thought-through and purely being used to pay for the mistakes of the financial sector."

The ATL, NUT and UCU backed a series of rolling strikes in the summer and took part in an earlier walk-out in June.

But any proposed action in November would be more widespread.

Nick Gibb, the Schools Minister, said: “We are continuing to hold serious discussions about the reforms with the teaching profession. It is right that the unions look very carefully at what is on the table before taking industrial action.

“Strikes benefit no one - they damage pupils’ education; disrupt and inconvenience parents’ lives; and risk the professional reputation of teachers in the eyes of the public.”