Members of the largest teaching union in the UK have expressed their readiness to engage in industrial action to secure increased funding for schools. According to an indicative ballot conducted by the National Education Union (NEU), over 90% of participating members showed a willingness to take such action.
Despite this strong sentiment, less than half of eligible teacher members voted in the ballot, with a turnout of 48.6%. NEU General Secretary, Daniel Kebede, criticized the government’s approach towards schools, stating that members are prepared to take any necessary action to protect education.
The NEU initiated the ballot on February 28, seeking input from members on the possibility of striking over issues such as teacher pay, workload, and school funding. The union has raised concerns over the Department for Education’s recommendation of a 6.5% pay increase for teachers over the next three years.
The indicative ballot posed two key questions to NEU members, focusing on their rejection of the pay rise proposal and their willingness to take industrial action to address workload, secure additional funding, and advocate for an above-inflation pay increase. Almost all teachers who participated in the ballot (96%) rejected the DfE’s pay rise proposal.
The NEU’s national executive is scheduled to convene next month to determine the next course of action. Support staff members of the union also took part in an indicative ballot, with 86.5% indicating their preparedness to engage in industrial action, from a turnout of 55.5%.
Kebede highlighted the dire situation in schools due to prolonged funding cuts, emphasizing the need for immediate intervention to support teachers and staff. He expressed concerns over the lack of new funding for staff pay, warning of further cuts that could impact educational quality.
Kebede cautioned that without adequate support, schools could face more challenges ahead. He mentioned the possibility of national strike action by the NEU if necessary to safeguard school funding. Delegates at the NASUWT’s annual conference also signaled support for a potential national strike ballot if the government fails to allocate more funding for schools and special educational needs and disabilities.
Teachers received a 4% pay rise for the 2025/26 academic year, following increases of 5.5% in 2024/25 and 6.5% in 2023/34 after previous strike actions led by the NEU.
