The Association of School and College Leaders is planning a “consultative ballot” on industrial action in what the union’s general secretary has called an “unprecedented moment”.
In a video address to members, ASCL general secretary Geoff Barton said the union would “wait and see” what happens in next week’s budget - in which it is anticipated that education spending could be reduced - but said that, from next week, it would start talking to members about a consultative ballot. This will ask them “what would you be prepared to do?” around funding, pay and conditions.
Speaking to Tes, Mr Barton said the ballot would be “an informal, internal process” and would determine whether or not members wanted the union “to stage a formal ballot on action short of a strike or strike action”.
He said the situation would be outlined “more fully” on Friday, but described the move as “quite a moment”, and said that the ballot would ask members: “What are your lines in the sand?”
Mr Barton said guidance would also be issued to members on Friday on how to do things that are “legally appropriate” when dealing with industrial action from other unions.
He said it was “very hard” for such action to “not feel personal if you’re a head or chief executive”.
School leaders consider strike action over pay and funding
But he added: “We’re all in this together. We all want the best outcomes for children and young people, with the funding that will make that happen.
“It’s just therefore important that we keep industrial relations as harmonious as possible.”
The ASCL had previously told Tes that it was consulting with members generally but had not given fixed dates on this process.
Speaking about the ballot today, Mr Barton said: “The situation is unsustainable and deeply damaging to children, families, communities and staff.
“We will therefore move forward to the next stage of potential industrial action.
“This is an unprecedented step for ASCL and we have never before in our 150-year history consulted on industrial action on this scale. We will set out a timeline for the consultative ballot shortly.”
In a poll over the summer, half of respondents in the union called for an indicative ballot on strike action.
However, only 16 per cent of its members responded to the survey, sent to 13,693 state school leaders on 31 August, when schools were still in the summer holidays.
Last month both the NASUWT and NEU teaching unions began to ballot members on strike action over pay and funding.
And the NAHT school leaders’ union is set to follow suit after announcing its intention to ballot members on strike action over pay for the first time in its 125-year history.
For NEU members, industrial action could happen from 30 January next year.
