Sixth form teachers to strike over pay dispute in England

​​​​​​​By Aysu Bicer

LONDON (AA) - Teachers at 32 sixth form colleges in England are preparing to strike after an overwhelming vote for industrial action.

Members of the National Education Union (NEU) cited a sharp decline in pay and funding as the primary reasons behind the dispute.

"Three more on 7, 8 and 9 January - unless the government takes immediate steps to guarantee the same above-inflation pay award to all teachers," said the union.

The decision follows a ballot of members at 40 sixth form colleges, that received a 62% turnout, with 97% voting in favor of the strike.

Blackpool Sixth Form College was later withdrawn from the dispute, reducing the number of institutions to 39, with strikes set to take place at 32.

The NEU has been pressing for clarity from the education secretary on whether non-academized sixth form colleges can access additional funding announced in the budget to address staff pay concerns.

Academized sixth form colleges have already received funding to implement the same 5.5% pay award as their school teacher counterparts. No such assurances have been provided for non-academized colleges, leaving many teachers feeling left behind.