Unions to launch most chaotic school strikes ever as ‘war plan’ to exploit Labour law change revealed
Britain's largest teaching union is preparing what it describes as its most disruptive school walkouts to date, with action planned for the period following Christmas that could affect exam preparation and leave parents scrambling for childcare.
The National Education Union has been galvanised by Labour's reforms to industrial action rules, including the introduction of online voting and the removal of minimum turnout requirements for strike ballots.
Daniel Kebede, the NEU's general secretary, defended the planned nationwide action as essential to "save education" and prevent "schools running on empty".
However, critics within the education sector, including former union representatives, have characterised the planned strikes as evidence of a "Marxist agenda" that prioritises confrontation over teachers' genuine interests.
The union has strategically scheduled its national strike ballot for October, timing it to coincide with new government regulations permitting electronic voting alongside traditional postal ballots.
This change is expected to boost participation and improve chances of meeting the current 50 per cent turnout threshold required to authorise walkouts, a requirement that will be abolished entirely from 2027.
Activists are planning to "flood schools" with pro-strike materials over the summer months to place the organisation "on a war footing".
Campaign materials highlighting "school cuts" will be distributed at school gates to win over both educators and families.
The NEU is also actively recruiting dinner ladies, librarians and teaching assistants to amplify the impact of any industrial action, according to the Mail on Sunday.
Younger teachers are being trained in organising tactics through union workshops, while the organisation is hiring "industrial organisers" at salaries reaching £58,000 annually.
Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake condemned the planned action, stating: "Angela Rayner's changes to strike rules will inevitably lead to further disruption to children's education, more school days for kids and more work days for parents being lost."
He accused Labour of lacking "the backbone to stand up to the union bully boys" and warned that "pupils and parents will be the ones who pay the price".
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Iain Mansfield, education lead at the Policy Exchange think-tank, argued that by escalating industrial action plans despite teachers receiving above-inflation pay increases, the NEU was demonstrating it "does not have children's interests at heart".
Peter Block, a 77-year-old former NEU representative, expressed concern that Mr Kebede pursued a "Marxist agenda" and that "stirring up trouble" had become more important to the union than supporting teachers.
A Department for Education spokesman described the NEU's approach as "extremely disappointing", adding: "Ultimately, it will be children, young people and hard-working parents who will pay the price."
The union is seeking improvements to the Government's proposed 6.5 per cent pay increase for teachers spread across three years.
An NEU spokesman defended the planned action, stating: "Schools are running on empty. After years of significant underfunding, they are now at financial breaking point.
"No teacher takes industrial action lightly. It is always a last resort."
The spokesman insisted the general secretary's sole agenda was securing "the best possible education for children and young people and the best working conditions and pay for teachers and support staff".
Any walkouts are expected to be coordinated with the NASUWT, the other major teachers' union.
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