The National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) has announced it will not be joining the National Union of Teachers' (NUT's) proposed strikes next month.

Although the NASUWT said it remains deeply concerned about the pay, conditions and pensions people in teaching jobs have to deal with, its members will not be walking out on March 26th.

Education secretary Michael Gove has agreed to sit down with the union and work through some of the frustrations felt by the teaching profession later this month, while the minister has also accepted the recommendations outlined in a report by the School Teachers' Review Body, which can go some way to safeguarding important contractual entitlements for teachers.

General secretary of NASUWT - which represents almost 300,000 teachers - Chris Keates said there is now a window of opportunity for both sides to settle long-running disputes.

She said: "This development is a victory for NASUWT members who have shown support and solidarity for the NASUWT's ongoing industrial action strategy.

"However, the imposition of adverse and damaging changes means that the teaching profession remains on the verge of a national recruitment and retention crisis.

"The relentless attack on every aspect of teachers' working lives, as a consequence of coalition government reforms, is continuing to take its toll."

Although the union has stated its intention not to strike and cause fresh disruption to families that have been affected by adverse weather, the possibility of industrial action after the Easter holidays has not been ruled out by the NASUWT.

Schools in London and further afield will still be affected on March 26th, unless Mr Gove's willingness to engage with unions is enough to make the NUT call off its proposed action.

As somebody looking for a teaching job, do you feel the unions should be split on these important issues? Does it weaken the position of teachers? Is a settlement near?

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