Teachers vote to strike in action that will close most English and Welsh schools | Industrial action

Teachers and school support staff in the National Education Union have voted in support of strike action, which will close or partially close the vast majority of schools in England and Wales.

Strike action will begin with a mass walkout on 1 February, to coincide with the TUC’s national “protect the right to strike” day of action, followed by a series of regional strikes later in the month, the NEU said.

The union is striking in pursuit of its claim for a fully funded, above-inflation pay rise, after the government announced last summer that most teachers would receive a pay rise of about 5%, while starting salaries would go up by 8.9%.

More details soon …