No teacher “would want to strike” after the disruption that the Covid pandemic has caused for school pupils, the education secretary has claimed today.
Nadhim Zahawi made the comment to MPs in the House of Commons this afternoon, in response to a question from Labour MP Kate Osamor.
Ms Osamor asked why the secretary of state had called the prospect of a teacher strike “unforgivable”, and whether he would commit to an above-inflation pay increase for them.
Mr Zahawi replied: “I don’t think any teacher would want to strike after the damage that Covid did to students being out of school.”
Last month, the National Education Union warned the education secretary that it would ballot members over strike action in the autumn if the government fails to commit to a pay rise above inflation, which currently stands at 9.1 per cent.
Leaders of the NASUWT called for a 12 per cent pay increase for teachers this year, and said it would ballot members in England, Wales and Scotland for industrial action if such a pay rise was not offered.
Responding to Ms Osamor, Mr Zahawi said that in his evidence to the School Teachers’ Review Body, he had talked about wanting to “deliver” an 8.9 per cent pay rise for new teachers this year, and a 7.1 per cent uplift next year, to take their salaries to £30,000.
He added that his recommendation for more senior teachers was 5 per cent over two years.
This is because he is proposing an increase of 3 per cent next year, followed by 2 per cent the following year.
Speaking earlier in the Commons session, Mr Zawahi described how a bus strike in Leeds in June saw a group of Year 10 pupils, who are resettled Afghan refugees, walk 4.2 miles to get to school to sit an exam.
“The example should inspire us all and shame those whose striking has jeopardised young people’s futures,” he said.
According to a poll seen by Tes, almost four in 10 teachers would support strike action if offered a pay deal of 3 per cent or less.
