TEACHER strikes next week must be STOPPED if unions want fresh pay talks, ministers warned today.
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan has invited the NEU back to the negotiating table – but only if they halt walkouts.
Teachers are set to strike next week
Classroom strikes are taking place next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday across thousands of schools.
The NEU has been demanding an inflation-busting pay rise much higher than the 5 per cent offered last year.
Deadlocked talks have led to historic industrial action from teachers despite pleas to spare kids more disruption.
But today Ms Keegan offered an olive branch to press on with negotiations if strikes are called off.
A Department for Education spokesperson said: “The Education Secretary has written to teaching unions inviting them to build on the constructive discussions that have already taken place and move into formal talks on pay, conditions and reform.
“Our hope is that we can find a fair and reasonable settlement that recognises the vital role teachers play, while acknowledging the wider economic pressures facing the country and the government’s priority to halve inflation.
“A condition of these talks will be that the National Education Union calls off next week’s strike action.”
