Union ‘committed to balloting again’ on school strikes |Tes

The NAHT school leaders’ union has said it is “committed to balloting again” on industrial action after its last strike ballot failed to meet the legal turnout threshold. 

It comes after the union’s first strike ballot on pay in its 125-year history fell short of the 50 per cent figure needed under government rules.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of NAHT, said: ”We are concerned that our democratic process was materially compromised by the Royal Mail chaos, and because of this, we are committed to balloting again”.

However, Mr Whiteman made clear that the union does not “know for sure when that will be – we will wait and see how much progress is made first”.

“Anti-trade union law means ballot results have a limited shelf life so we will test members’ views again when current talks conclude or break down.”

NAHT had previously said it would consider re-running its ballot as voting was disrupted by postal delays.

Last week, NAHT revealed it had not hit the turnout threshold for industrial action in England.

A total of 87 per cent of ballots recorded a “yes”’ vote for action short of a strike, and 64 per cent voted “yes” to a strike.

But the turnout of 42 per cent fell short of the 50 per cent figure needed under government rules.

The NEU teaching union announced last Monday that teachers would go on strike from 1 February after 90 per cent of teacher members voted for strike action in a ballot turnout of 53 per cent.