If anyone thought that the public sector strikes were fading out, this week marks a resurgence, with Passport Office staff striking for five weeks – apparently on behalf of other civil servants whose absence might be less noticed – along with the National Education Union (NEU). The education union voted by a margin of 98 to 2 per cent for two days’ strikes on 27 April and 2 May. Pleas to save children further disruption to their education following months of school closures during Covid-19 appear to have fallen on deaf ears.
The NEU vote shows one thing which has been little commented upon during this round of strikes: the true cost of the Barnett formula. One of the factors behind the vote seems to be that Scottish teachers have recently settled a pay dispute with the Scottish government by accepting a 14 per cent deal – 7 per cent backdated to last April, a further 5 per cent this month and another 2 per cent next January.
Britain’s best politics newsletters
You get two free articles each week when you sign up to The Spectator’s emails.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Comments
Join the debate, free for a month
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first month free.
UNLOCK ACCESS Try a month freeAlready a subscriber? Log in