The union said the ballot is “a result of failure by the Secretary of State in England and the employers in Wales to ensure enough money is available to pay a fully funded increase in pay for teachers which at least matches inflation, and which begins to restore lost pay”.
Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the NEU, said the action is “not about a pay rise but correcting historic real-terms pay cuts".
Kevin Courtney, also joint general secretary, added: “Teachers have lost 23 per cent in real terms since 2010, and support staff 27 per cent over the same period. The average five per cent pay rise for teachers this year is some seven per cent behind inflation. In the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, that is an unsustainable situation.
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