With the cost of living crisis and various sectors striking, it’s no surprise that teachers are now set to strike over pay in the coming weeks. 

Seven days of strike action has been declared from the NEU Teaching Union across February and March. The full list of projected strike days for NEU members can be found below.

 Teacher Strike Dates

  • Wednesday 1 February 2023: all eligible members in England and Wales. 
  • Tuesday 14 February 2023: all eligible members in Wales. 
  • Tuesday 28 February 2023: all eligible members in the following English regions: Northern, North West, Yorkshire & The Humber. 
  • Wednesday 1 March 2023: all eligible members in the following English regions: East Midlands, West Midlands, Eastern. 
  • Thursday 2 March 2023: all eligible members in the following English regions: London, South East, South West. 
  • Wednesday 15 March 2023: all eligible members in England and Wales. 
  • Thursday 16 March 2023: all eligible members in England and Wales. 

(Dates provided by TES) 

For many it’s deeply concerning that the education of our children is likely to suffer once again after such a huge disruption during the pandemic. But even with most state school teachers in England and Wales receiving a 5% pay increase in 2022, with the current rise in the cost of living this actually now equates to a pay cut leaving them with little choice but to go ahead with striking in hope that the government will take action to avoid further interruption.  

Year 11 Students Affected Most

A big concern area of parents and teachers is that current year 11 students, who will be sitting their GCSEs this year, have only had one year of undisrupted learning since starting secondary school. Does this mean that exams be adapted with this in mind? Does it leave students at an unfair disadvantage when it comes to sitting the most important exams of their school life? Not to mention how it will affect their mental wellbeing at an already intense time for them.  

As for parents themselves the question remains the same as it did in lockdown; how are they expected to work as normal when their children aren’t in school? Putting many in an already tough position when they’re having to choose between going to work or taking time off when many are already struggling to make ends meet.  

It’s suggested that the government need to take immediate action, in the form of pay increases, in order to prevent striking from happening again instead of talks about implementing anti-strike bills becoming the law.