ASCL industrial action ballot
The Association of School and College Leaders, for the first time in its history, held a formal ballot for national strike action in England over the linked issues of pay, conditions, inadequacy of school funding, and teacher shortages.
The Association had endeavoured to resolve the matter through negotiation but the government made an offer to settle the dispute in March which was completely inadequate and was rejected by 87% of eligible members on a turnout of 56%.
On 19 April, ASCL’s Executive Committee of senior elected members met to discuss next steps and unanimously decided to move to a formal ballot on strike action. The ballot was scheduled to run between 19 June and 31 July and, if members voted for strike action, it was expected that this would take place during the autumn term. Members eligible in this trade dispute were those employed under the terms of the School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document (STPCD).
On 13 July, the government made a pay offer of 6.5%. We issued this statement along with the NAHT, NASUWT and NEU. On 17 July, all eligible members were invited to vote on our consultation on the government’s teacher pay and funding offer in England. The consultation ended at 5pm on 20 July with the result that 87% voted in favour of accepting the offer, with 13% against, on a turnout of 46% of eligible members.
We have therefore halted our ballot on strike action in England - read our press release here. Further details on next steps can be read in our email briefing of 21 July here.
Thank you to all those who voted in our ballot and consultation and for your feedback during the process. The strength of feeling demonstrated by holding the ballot has been instrumental in achieving the settlement to this dispute.