Council to consult on school strike

3:12pm Friday 4th April 2008

Schools could be out in Pembrokeshire on April 24th, after Wales' biggest teaching union has voted for a one day strike over pay.

The NUT (National Union of Teachers) says that 75% of its members in England and Wales voted to take strike action for the first time in 21 years.

With over 400 NUT members in Pembrokeshire the county's schools look to be drastically affected. However, Pembrokeshire County Council says that the ultimate decision to stay open or to close will rest with head teachers.

"The authority will be encouraging headteachers and governing bodies to keep schools open," said a county council spokesman, "in order to maintain continuity of educational provision and to ensure that examination preparation is not affected.

"The final decision however will rest with individual headteachers who have to assess health and safety requirements and consider other issues, such as any impending examinations."

The NUT says strike action is a last resort and follows a lengthy campaign during which the union has repeatedly drawn attention to the frustration of teachers about the effects of below-inflation pay increases.

It says that pay issues are affecting teacher recruitment, retention and morale as well as the long term future of education in Britain.

It claims that a below inflation pay increase of 2.45% to be awarded this September is essentially a pay cut as it does not match increases in the cost of living.

The council will be contacting individual schools after the Easter break to gauge responses to strike action.