Suffolk NEU teachers, including in Bury St Edmunds, to strike on March 1 as union calls on Secretary of State to 'end this madness'

Strike action by teachers is set to go ahead in the Eastern region next week in an ongoing dispute over pay and education funding.

The action on Wednesday, March 1, by members of the National Education Union (NEU) will see picket lines in place at schools, including in Bury St Edmunds.

NEU members from this area will then head to Cambridge for a regional rally and march around the city centre, assembling at Parker’s Piece from 11.30am. Speakers will include NEU joint general secretary Kevin Courtney.

The strike action on Wednesday follows a national walkout on February 1 that caused disruption up and down the country, including in Suffolk, as some schools were forced to close fully or partially.

Paul McLaughlin, regional secretary of the NEU in the Eastern Region, said: "Despite a full month to come to the table with concrete proposals on pay, Gillian Keegan has done nothing to resolve our dispute.

"At our meeting on 15 February she made no offer and so far nothing meaningful has been put forward which would end the deadlock; this failure is further damaging to pupils and staff.

“The responsibility to avert further strikes rests firmly with the education secretary and Government.

"Gillian Keegan has called a series of meetings with education unions in recent weeks, but her latest suggestion was to meet only on the condition that we call off further strikes. This is not an acceptable way to treat members who have been seeking a reasonable tangible offer to resolve this matter for months.

"Our members, having delivered a strong mandate for action, have been left with no serious option and have had to take strike action already, and our membership has grown by 49,000 since the ballot result was first announced.

"The strength of feeling is all too clear. Enough is enough. We call on the Secretary of State to end this madness and negotiate in good faith.

"The government’s education policy is driving the current recruitment and retention crisis which is damaging the education and prospects for our young people.

"A fully-funded, above inflation pay rise would make a significant difference. It would ensure children are taught by those who specialise in the subjects they are delivering, and stop the brain drain which leads to pupils sadly seeing a revolving door of teachers over the course of a year.

"We regret having to take strike action and the disruption it causes, but it is self-evident that Government-inflicted disruption to education is now part of a pupil's daily life.

"This situation cannot go on and members will take action to ensure that a brighter future for education is achieved."

On Wednesday, Eastern region members will be striking simultaneously with members in the NEU East and West Midlands regions. Other NEU regions will strike on neighbouring days.

Further strike days are planned for England and Wales schools on March 15 and 16.

The Department for Education was approached for comment.