TEACHERS could be next to join the summer strikes misery — after 40,000 RMT workers brought railways to a standstill yesterday.
The National Education Union today tells No10 it wants 12 per cent rises for its members by September.
Yesterday 1980s miners’ strike leader Arthur Scargill, 84, supported the RMT in Wakefield, West Yorks.
Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi warned teachers risk wrecking kids’ recovery from the Covid pandemic if their unions vote to strike.
He exclusively told The Sun: “Young people have suffered more disruption to their education than any generation gone before, and it’s the vital work of teachers that is helping them get back on track.
“The last thing I — or any parent — want to see is anything that would risk undoing that progress.”
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NEU chief Mary Bousted will write to Mr Zahawi today threatening industrial action.
She told TalkTV: “We’re going to be asking for a pay rise, which matches inflation.”
She told Mr Zahawi to “get around the negotiating table now”, adding: “If the Secretary of State refuses to do that, we will then survey our members to see if they are willing to take strike action, which is always a last resort.”
The explosive row came as:
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- BORIS Johnson said Britain must “stay the course” and take on the unions, or risk “disaster for this country”.
- LABOUR plunged into civil war as MPs joined picket lines in defiance of leader Sir Keir Starmer.
- MINISTERS privately hinted they were prepared to give railway workers bigger rises than nurses if they agree to modernisation.
As the spectre of mass strikes looms over Britain, a bullish Mr Johnson told the Cabinet they must stay united.
He warned if they surrender to train strikers now then the whole rail network will “go bust”.
Teachers have been offered a five per cent pay rise over the next two years.
The Government has vowed to pay new teachers a starting salary of £30,000 — which would amount to a massive 16.7 per cent over the next two years.
But the NEU demanded wage bumps which match inflation — even if it hit 12 per cent.
Another teachers union, Nasuwt, has threatened industrial action if they do not get the increase.
Meanwhile, yesterday’s action — the largest in a generation — hit Network Rail and 13 train operators.
There were almost no passenger trains for the entire day, cutting off most of Scotland and Wales, all of Cornwall and Dorset, Chester, Hull, Lincoln and Worcester.
Just a fifth of trains ran, with half of lines and the Tube closed.
Less than two-thirds will run today due to the delay in starting services, plus control room staff refusing to work overnight.
The hospitality sector fears total losses of £1billion over the week — while the railways will suffer £150million losses too.
Smirking union bosses
RAIL union boss “Mad” Mick Lynch and his militant mates gloated as they caused chaos for millions of commuters yesterday.
In a throwback to lockdown, stations were deserted as millions worked from home to beat the transport carnage.
Thousands of signal workers, cleaners and maintenance staff from the RMT union walked out in an increasingly bitter dispute over pay and modernisation.
They will do the same tomorrow — with the strike certain to go ahead, regardless of the outcome of fresh talks between rail bosses and union barons today.
The RMT is refusing to abandon outdated working practices and automation even though its members are on course for a pay rise double that of nurses.
