The NUT and NASUWT teaching unions issued a press release last week complaining of “game-playing” by education secretary Michael Gove.
Gove is waging war on teachers’ pay, conditions and pensions.
Union leaders retreated from plans to hold a national strike over the attacks before Christmas because they said Gove was prepared to talk. But no talks have taken place.
Instead Gove accused union leaders of “refusing to take part in the programme of talks” in a letter last week.
It should be no surprise that Gove isn’t serious about talks.
He has already made clear that his attacks are not up for negotiation—only their implementation.
Union leaders reiterated that they will call a national strike by 13 February next year “should Michael Gove fail genuinely to engage to resolve the issues under dispute”.
Teachers are organising a petition calling on union leaders to call a national walkout early in the new year to take the fight to Gove.
This follows Labour's proscription of the direct action group last year
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