Teachers Double Think Strike As they Consider The Kids

A teacher said she’s prepared to strike, despite feeling guilty about pupils who could lose out on education. Lowri Lewis Williams, from Denbighshire, said strikes were needed to “safeguard the future of teaching”.

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It comes as teachers in Wales and other parts of the UK are asked to vote on industrial action after being offered below-inflation pay rises.

It could lead to strikes in the new year after unions rejected a 5% pay offer from the Welsh government.

Union boss Neil Butler said the offer was “not good enough” and amounts to a 5% decrease given inflation.

Education Minister Jeremy Miles has urged unions not to take industrial action and said he was “disappointed” with their decision.

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But Ms Williams, who has been a teacher for 17 years, said: “I think it’s vital that we take action.

“I don’t want to, but I feel like we have no other choice.”

She said teachers had been “forced into a corner” and were left with no other option.

“It doesn’t sit comfortably with me because I love my job,” she added.

Ms Williams, who teaches at Ysgol Brynhyfryd in Ruthin, said the job had become increasingly difficult in recent years.

“There are more and more demands being placed on us – expectations are higher than they’ve ever been,” she said.

“But our pay has been stagnant for a very long time.”

She said teachers struggled to make ends meet; many were leaving the profession because of the low pay.

Ms Williams said she would not want to strike but felt it was necessary to safeguard the future of teaching.

“It’s not a decision we’ve taken lightly,” she added.

“But I think it’s a decision we have to take.”

The National Education Union Cymru said its members would be balloted on industrial action in the new year.

A final decision on whether to strike will be made after the ballot closes on 21 January.

The union said the pay offer from the Welsh government was “derisory” and would leave teachers worse off in real terms.

General secretary David Evans said: “This is a disgraceful offer which does nothing to address years of pay stagnation and declining real-term pay.”

He added that the union would be “exploring all options” to secure a better deal for teachers.

The Welsh government said it was “disappointed” the unions had rejected the pay offer.

A spokesperson said: “We have met with the trade unions on a number ofseveral occasions to discuss their concerns and will continue to do so.”

They added that the government would “consider its next steps” following the union’s decision to ballot for industrial action.

The Welsh government said it had offered teachers a 5% pay rise, which was the “maximum possible” given the current financial climate.

But unions said the offer was insufficient to keep up with inflation and would result in a pay cut in real terms.

The National Education Union Cymru said its members would be balloted on industrial action in the new year.

A final decision on whether to strike will be made after the ballot closes on 21 January.

If teachers vote in favour of strikes, it could lead to industrial action in the new year.

This would be the first time teachers in Wales have gone on strike since the 1980s.

What do you think about the possibility of teachers going on strike? Let us know in the comments below.

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