Earlier today the NUT and the NASUWT announced further strike action following, they claim, the continued refusal of the Secretary of State, Michael Gove, to genuinely engage with them to seek to resolve our trade disputes with him Answering questions after his speech to Policy Exchange today the importance of teaching, Education Secretary Michael Gove responded to the teaching unions announcing strike action:
"I fear the reason for this strike is there are people in the leadership of the teaching unions who are on, for ideological reasons or whatever, some sort of kick. The problem with industrial action is that parents suffer as their routines are disrupted, they have to get childcare – the poorest lose out most. Children suffer because they lose valuable time with teachers, learning and achieving more.
“And I think that the only thing I can discern as a theme running through what unions are doing is opposition to performance related pay. I recommend that anyone looks at the article by Amanda Phillips, Head teacher of Old Ford Primary, in the east end of London. She outlines how performance related pay, combined with the pupil premium will help the poorest children in one of the poorest boroughs of this country. And it seems to me crazy that trades unions are taking action, ostensibly in the interests of their members, actively holding back disadvantaged children from succeeding.
“So I unhesitatingly condemn this action. I’m happy to talk any time, any place, anywhere to the trades unions to try and get them to see the errors of their ways. But one thing we need to have is political unity on this and we need to have uncompromising condemnation for the damage it does to children from the Labour Party and so far when it comes to the unions the Labour Party has either been acquiescent or silent."
