Teachers will strike to 'make Labour MPs pay' unless salaries increase (2025)

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Britain's biggest education union has threatened strikes to ‘make Labour MPs pay’ unless teachers get more cash this year.

The National Education Union (NEU) said it is poised to mobilise its half a million members to cause political damage to the Government.

General Secretary Daniel Kebede accused ministers of ‘betraying’ teachers with a 2.8 per cent pay recommendation, as well as those who voted Labour.

And he said while ‘no teacher wants to strike’, the union ‘stands ready’ to ballot for autumn walkouts if there is no above-inflation offer.

The declaration could see Labour MPs targeted by campaigns in any upcoming by-elections, and will be a headache in the long-term for the Prime Minister.

While the NEU is officially not affiliated with a political party, it has previously been a friend to Labour – with Jeremy Corbyn receiving a standing ovation at its 2016 conference.

Addressing the union’s 2025 annual conference in Harrogate, Mr Kebede said: ‘After 14 years of Conservative austerity, we expect better from a Labour Government.

‘If it is not a pay award that takes a step towards a correction in pay – if it does not address the crisis in recruitment and retention – and unless it is fully funded, then we stand ready to act industrially.

‘We will make Labour MPs pay a high political price through our campaigning in their constituencies, with parents, across the country.

‘No teacher wants to strike. But we stand ready.’

Mr Kebede also listed the union’s local strikes in schools across the country this year and said activities have ‘ramped up’.

In 2024, 593 days of industrial action were taken by members – more than double the previous year, he said.

He added: ‘We are lighting fires of resistance – in multi-academy trusts, with employer-wide disputes covering both teaching and support staff to deliver for all educators and all children…

‘We want to see more of this. Organising in workplaces, developing reps and supporting branch officers to build links between workplaces to spread success.’

To cries of ‘shame’ from the audience, Mr Kebede said Keir Starmer was not delivering on school funding, adding: ‘It is a betrayal of all those who voted for change.’

Earlier in the conference, the union voted to launch a formal ballot on autumn strikes if the Government does not improve its 2.8 per cent pay proposal, which is unfunded.

Mr Kebede’s wide-ranging speech also criticised social media giants as ‘Silicon Valley tech bros’ who are ‘only in it for the money’.

He accused them of failing to protect children by being ‘breeding grounds for misogynistic content’ which is ‘infecting classrooms’ and ‘normalising’ degrading views of women.

Referencing Netflix drama Adolescence, which he said ‘stunned him into silence’, he said a ‘safeguarding crisis’ in schools is being ‘fuelled’ by tech companies that ‘prioritise profits over people’.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: ‘With school staff, parents and young people working so hard to turn the tide on school attendance, any move towards industrial action by teaching unions would be indefensible.’

Referencing last year’s pay rise, she added: ‘Following a 5.5 per cent pay award in a hugely challenging fiscal context, I would urge NEU to put children first.’ ENDS

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