Industrial action by headteachers ‘necessary’ if pay offer rejected – union

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Industrial action by school leaders will be “necessary” if members reject the “inadequate” pay offer from the Government, a union leader has warned. “Furthermore, NAHT’s national executive committee does not believe that sufficient funding is being made available to meet even this inadequate offer.” He added: “If members reject the offer, it is clear that industrial action by NAHT members will be necessary.” The NEU, the largest education union in the UK, has said it plans to hold two further days of strike action on April 27 and May 2 if its members decide to reject the pay offer. Dr Bousted told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Our executive committee looked carefully at the offer and decided it was really insulting and that the union had to offer advice to members, who will either take that advice or ignore us.” Asked whether strikes could disrupt exams, she said: “We really hope that that doesn’t take place. “What we hope is that, if the members do reject the offer, we want to go back to the Government and say ‘You have to do better’, reopen negotiations, and let’s see if we can get an offer that members will find respectable.” On possible disruption to exams, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “Obviously, that will be hugely disappointing and disruptive for children and for parents.” He added that he hoped members from the unions would accept this “fair and reasonable deal and step back from strike action”.