More than six in 10 parents would support teachers taking industrial action if they were given a below-inflation pay rise, according to a new survey published by a teaching union.
In the survey of more than 2,000 adults in the UK, including parents, those with children under the age of 18 were more likely than those without children to support teachers taking industrial action, with 64 per cent of parents saying such a move would be justified.
The support for teachers was highest among parents with children aged 5 to 10, with 72 per cent in this demographic saying teachers would be justified in taking industrial action.
The NASUWT last week said it would ballot its members on industrial action over pay, with papers due to be issued to members from 27 October and the ballot closing on 9 January.
Looking at the general adult population, over half (56 per cent) of those in the survey said teachers would be justified in taking industrial action if they were given a pay rise below inflation.
And when asked about teacher pay, two-thirds (66 per cent) of adults said teachers should be better paid for the job they do.
Teachers could go on strike over pay deal
The poll was carried out on behalf of the NASUWT by Savanta ComRes, which interviewed 2,240 UK adults 18 and over online between 30 September and 2 October 2022.
NASUWT general secretary Dr Patrick Roach said that parents ”clearly value the work of teachers and headteachers and believe that teachers should be better paid”.
Dr Roach said the government ”should be investing more in teachers, rather than cutting teachers’ pay and planning yet more cuts to children’s education”.
“It’s time for the government to restore the confidence of parents and the public by delivering a fully funded real-terms pay award for teachers and headteachers.”
Last Friday the NEU, England’s biggest teacher union, said that it would announce a timetable for a ballot after a preliminary ballot of teacher members and support staff showed strong support for taking action over pay.
The NEU is also opening a ballot for sixth-form college members tomorrow to decide whether they will strike over pay. This ballot is due to close on Friday 11 November.
The NAHT school leaders’ union recently launched a consultation with its members to gauge their views on pay and funding.
And earlier this month the Association of School and College Leaders released the results of its survey of school leaders, which asked whether the union should run an indicative ballot for action short of strike action and an indicative ballot on strike action.
Half of the school leaders surveyed said the union should run an indicative ballot on strike action, but half of the respondents said the union should not take this step.
