The militant education union that orchestrated disruptive strikes in schools earlier this year is now facing a revolt from its own staff.
The National Education Union (NEU) plunged schools in England into chaos in July when nearly 60,000 members staged a series of walkouts in a bitter row over pay – depriving millions of pupils of sports days, school trips and other end-of-term activities.
Unions, including the NEU, later called off planned strikes in the autumn term after recommending their members accept a 6.5 per cent pay rise for teachers in England.
Now, in an internal memo seen by the Mail, NEU General Secretary Daniel Kebede has shared his dismay over a series of planned strikes by the union’s staff, who are members of the Unite union.
Ironically, staff have refused to accept a 6.5 per cent pay rise – the figure the union recommended teachers accept – and will now stage walkouts tomorrow and on Wednesday and on December 6, 7, 13 and 14.
In an email to NEU staff, General Secretary Daniel Kebede said it was ‘deeply disappointing’ the union had been unable to resolve the pay row with its own staff
NEU staff are members of Unite, and their walkout will force all NEU offices to shut, Kebede said, adding: ‘I am deeply sorry we find ourselves in this position’
In an email to NEU staff, Kebede said it was ‘deeply disappointing’ the union had been unable to resolve the pay row but warned ‘strike action will not result in an improved pay award’ as cumulative staff pay rises ‘have far outstripped our subscription increases over the last decade’.
Unite’s walkouts next week will force all NEU offices to shut, Kebede said, adding: ‘I am deeply sorry we find ourselves in this position.’
A Unite spokesman said: ‘Our members at the NEU have a long-running dispute concerning pay and Unite has been in negotiations with the NEU. ‘
Last summer’s strikes by the NEU on July 5 and 7 were among eight days of industrial action in England’s state schools staged by the union between February and July.
All four education unions including the NEU, the Association of School College Leaders (ASCL), the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) and NASUWT had rejected a government offer of an average 4.5 per cent rise for staff next year and a £1,000 one-off payment for the current school year.