The National Education Union (NEU) has initiated an indicative ballot to gauge members’ willingness to strike over critical issues such as teacher pay, workload, and inadequate school funding. The ballot opened on February 28, 2024, and will remain accessible until April 17, 2024. This move underscores the growing concerns regarding the financial sustainability of schools across the United Kingdom.
Daniel Kebede, NEU general secretary, expressed urgent concern, stating, “Schools are running on empty.” He criticized the government’s expectation that schools should fund a 6.5 percent pay increase over three years from their existing budgets, deeming it unrealistic. Kebede condemned the Treasury’s assertions that further efficiencies could be made, calling these claims laughable. He highlighted the chronic underfunding from successive governments, which has contributed to what he described as a “severe crisis” in education.
In his remarks, Kebede pointed to deteriorating conditions in schools, noting the presence of outdated equipment, broken furniture, and worn textbooks. He explained that recruitment challenges and high staff turnover have led to increased workloads for remaining teachers. This lack of adequate funding has resulted in fewer teaching assistants and larger class sizes, further straining educational resources.
The Department for Education (DfE) has proposed a 6.5 percent pay increase for teachers over the next three years. However, the NEU and other unions have criticized this recommendation. The ballot will ask NEU members whether they reject the pay proposal and if they are prepared to take industrial action to secure a pay rise that exceeds inflation, reduce workloads, and demand sufficient funding to prevent redundancies in schools.
A survey conducted by the NEU in January revealed that approximately seven in ten teachers believe their schools lack adequate funding to provide basic provisions for students. This sentiment reflects a widespread concern among educators about the financial health of their institutions.
The NEU, recognized as the largest teaching union in the UK, announced its decision to hold this indicative ballot in November 2023, following the autumn budget. The previous pay awards for teachers included a 4 percent increase for the 2025/26 academic year, a 5.5 percent increase for 2024/25, and a 6.5 percent increase for 2023/24, which were prompted by earlier strikes.
Research from the National Foundation for Educational Research indicates that the recent increases have restored teacher starting salaries to levels comparable to those in 2010/11 when adjusted for inflation. Nonetheless, the growth in starting salaries for teachers between 2010/11 and 2025/26 has lagged behind the average growth in earnings over the same period.
As the NEU prepares for the upcoming ballot, the situation in schools remains tense, with many educators advocating for improved conditions and fair compensation. The outcome of this ballot could lead to significant actions aimed at addressing the pressing challenges facing the education sector in the UK.
