Teachers threaten strikes

Teachers say they will take action themselves if the government fails to act

Members of the second biggest teaching union have warned they will take strike action against workloads and the government's flagship Education Action Zones, which they fear could mean longer hours and poorer pay.

The National Association of Schoolmasters and Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) told Education Secretary David Blunkett to cut their workload or they would take action to do it themselves.

David Blunkett: warning from teachers

They also pledged to oppose any attempt to worsen national pay and conditions.

It follows opposition to action zones from members of the biggest teaching union, the National Union of Teachers, at the weekend.

NASUWT General Secretary Nigel de Gruchy told the union's conference in Scarborough that Mr Blunkett had the chance to stop threatened strikes when he addressed the conference on Thursday.

"If he says things which improve the situation significantly, then obviously the executive of this union would be foolish not to consider it," added Mr de Gruchy.

Delegates demanded that Mr Blunkett cut red tape and "let teachers teach". The NASUWT wants the government to tell schools exactly how the recommendations of its working group on cutting bureaucracy should be implemented.

Executive member Mick Carney said teachers wanted to join with the government to raise standards in education. But the government had failed to act effectively to liberate teachers to do their jobs.

Opposition to zones

Education Action Zones are an effort by the government to put more money into schools in disadvantaged areas.

Groups of around 20 schools would receive extra cash from the government, matched by sponsorship from businesses which would take a leading role in the forums running the zones.

But the union's executive member Bill Morley asked: "Is this really about raising standards, or is the agenda really to set up a number of laboratories where children will be used as experimental mice and where the latest educational fads and fancies will be tested?"