October 5th – Return your Ballot

This October, National Education Union members in state schools across England will be asked to take part in a formal postal ballot on industrial action over pay, funding and workload. The ballot is scheduled to open on 3 October and close on 15 December.

The decision follows overwhelming support from members in recent indicative ballots, which demonstrated the strength of feeling across the profession about the continuing pressures facing schools and colleges. Members expressed serious concerns about teacher pay, chronic underfunding and unsustainable workload levels.

Why is the Union Balloting?

The NEU’s position is clear: schools need proper investment, education staff deserve fair pay, and workload pressures must be addressed.

Despite years of campaigning, many schools continue to face difficult financial decisions. Staff shortages, increasing demands, recruitment and retention challenges, and budget pressures are affecting both educators and pupils. The union believes that recent funding announcements do not go far enough to ensure that pay awards are fully funded without cuts elsewhere in school budgets.

The ballot is therefore not simply about pay. It is about defending the future of education, protecting jobs, reducing excessive workload and ensuring that every child has access to a well-funded school staffed by qualified and supported professionals.

Why Your Vote Is So Important

Under UK trade union legislation, a legal industrial action ballot requires strict turnout thresholds to be met before action can take place. This means that every vote counts.

Whether you support industrial action or not, it is vital that members participate in the ballot. A strong turnout sends a powerful message that education professionals care deeply about the future of our schools and colleges.

The union can only demonstrate the collective strength of the profession if members take the time to complete and return their ballot papers. [socialistp…rty.org.uk], [neu.org.uk]

What Members Should Do Now

Between now and October, members can help ensure the ballot is successful by:

• Checking that their membership and contact details are up to date.
• Encouraging colleagues who are not yet members to join the union.
• Talking to workplace representatives about the issues facing their school.
• Keeping an eye on communications from the NEU and local district.
• Making a commitment to return their ballot paper as soon as it arrives. [neu.org.uk]

Standing Together

No educator enters the profession to take industrial action. However, unions exist to ensure that members have a collective voice when concerns are not being addressed. The forthcoming ballot gives members an opportunity to speak up for fair pay, properly funded schools and manageable workloads.

The challenges facing education did not arise overnight, and they will not be solved overnight. But when members stand together and participate, they strengthen our ability to secure the investment and respect that education deserves.

When your ballot paper arrives in October, make sure your voice is heard.

Vote. Return your ballot. Help save education.