The leader of the National Education Union has vowed to make Labour MPs 鈥減ay a high political price through our campaigning in their constituencies鈥� if teachers are denied an increased, fully-funded pay rise. In his keynote speech to the union鈥檚 in Harrogate this morning, Daniel Kebede said it was 鈥渋ndefensible for a Labour Government, a Labour Government, to cut school funding鈥�. Earlier this week, the union passed a motion calling on its ruling executive to move to a formal strike ballot 鈥渋f the final outcome of the [School Teachers鈥� Review Body] process remains unacceptable or if the government does not announce real terms funding increases in the June spending review鈥�. The union has said this could mean strikes as soon as the autumn term. Kebede told delegates today that 鈥渋f the STRB recommendation is not above inflation – if it is not a pay award that takes a step towards a correction in pay – if it does not address the crisis in recruitment and retention – and unless it is fully funded, then we stand ready to act industrially. 鈥淲e will make Labour MPs pay a high political price through our campaigning in their constituencies, with our parents, across the country. No teacher wants to strike. But we stand ready.鈥� Union campaigns on pay and school funding have caused headaches for politicians in the past, but they have previously been directed at the Conservatives. In the run-up to the 2017 general election, the School Cuts campaign, organised by the NEU with support from the ASCL and NAHT leadership unions, was credited with making education one of the key voter priorities on the doorstep. Theresa May lost her majority. ‘We will press this government where we must’ In its evidence to the STRB last year, the Department for Education said a 2.8 per cent pay rise 鈥渨ould be appropriate鈥� for 2025-26, adding that schools would need to find 鈥渆fficiencies鈥� to fund some of the increase. However, the DfE has since admitted schools will be able to afford less than half of the proposed rise, despite the increase in funding announced at last autumn鈥檚 budget. The School Cuts campaign estimates most primary and secondary schools face making cuts even to afford a 2.8 per cent rise. The Office for Budget Responsibility also recently increased its prediction for average wage growth across the wider economy next year to 3.7 per cent. Kebede, who took up his role in September 2023, told the union today that successful negotiations 鈥渙nly result from leveraging our power, and the power of our union is based upon organising, it鈥檚 based on campaigning and it鈥檚 based on action. 鈥淏ut we are an independent trade union. One built on our shared desire to improve lives and improve outcomes for children here and abroad. So it is absolutely right that we press this government where we must.鈥� ‘We expect better from Labour’ The government said no decision has been made for pay next year yet. The NEU鈥檚 鈥渕ove to a formal ballot now is premature鈥�, they added. Education secretary Bridget Phillipson said: 鈥淲ith school staff, parents and young people working so hard to turn the tide on school attendance, any move towards industrial action by teaching unions would be indefensible. 鈥淔ollowing a 5.5% pay award in a hugely challenging fiscal context, I would urge NEU to put children first.鈥� Schools Week has revealed how most schools face a funding increase of just 0.5 per cent next year, once the impact of previous pay and pensions increases are taken into account. Kebede said the prime minister Sir Keir Starmer and chancellor Rachel Reeves 鈥渕ay say austerity is over, but in this union we say austerity will only be ended by deeds not words. 鈥淕overnment say it would be indefensible for the NEU to take industrial action. Well I say to this government, it is indefensible for a Labour Government, a Labour Government, to cut school funding. Because cuts hurt kids.鈥� He added that 鈥渢ime and again, we are told there is no money. No money to properly fund our schools, or to cover fair pay. No money to repair crumbling classrooms or to scrap the two-child benefit cap. 鈥淐onference, after 14 years of Conservative austerity, we expect better from a Labour government.鈥� ‘A betrayal of our children’ He repeated calls for Phillipson to publish the STRB report, and warned the 鈥渞efusal to commit to fund fair pay and the wider funding of education is not just a policy failing – it is a betrayal. 鈥淚t is a betrayal of a generation of children who get one chance at school. It is a betrayal of the families in our communities who already have the least. It is a betrayal of all those who voted for change.鈥� He pointed out the government had pledged 鈥渂illions of pounds for military expansion at the expense of the most vulnerable in society鈥�, after the spring statement boosted defence spending but set out plans to cut certain benefits. 鈥淚f there is money for bombs, for bullets, for hypersonic missiles then there should be money for carers, for those unable to work and for free school meals. There should be money for mental health support. For SEND. For a pay rise that stops dedicated professionals leaving education altogether.鈥�