'Inflammatory language' making teachers dispute worse, claims MP

The dispute leading to a planned teachers' strike has been made worse by 'inflammatory language' used by the Education Secretary to describe unions, his opposite number said on a visit to the Black Country.

moreTristram Hunt MP, Shadow Education Secretary, said Michael Gove MP was straining relationships between teachers, unions and government when he spoke of 'militant teaching unions' during strike action last October as 'the enemies of promise'.

On a visit to Pheasey Park Farm Primary School Pheasey Park Farm Primary School, Mr Hunt said: "This Government has not done enough (to avert strike action).

"When you hear inflammatory language like calling teachers the enemies of promise, it does not create the kind of civil, courteous, professional relationship that there should be."

Mr Hunt made his comments as parents plan for a walkout of classrooms across the region later this month, on March 26, in a dispute about pay, pensions and conditions. If the industrial action goes ahead, it will be the third national strike since 2011 and will mean parents are forced to either take a day off work to look after their child or find alternative care for them.

Union members have said they felt they had 'no choice'. Mr Hunt MP added: "We want both side to get around the table and talk about the upcoming industrial action.

"I would be sitting down with the trade unions to discuss this complicated issue. Pay, terms and conditions are always an issue between Government. The actions of the Education

Secretary have produced an atmosphere which isn't conducive to good relations."

The Express & Star spoke to the Stoke-on-Trent Central MP as he visited the Walsall borough school to unveil a digital collaborative classroom.

The £20,000 facility includes three wall-mounted interactive touchscreens, two multi-touch tables – similar to a giant touch-screen computer – as well as individual notebook computers.

Headteacher Sally Lanni said it was at the heart of the school's ambition to achieve an Ofsted outstanding rating.

Mr Hunt said he was pleased to see such modern technology being employed in the school, but it would only work if great teachers still felt motivated nationally – a view with which Walsall South MP Valerie Vaz agreed.

She said: "Strike action is always a last resort for teachers.

"We need to listen to what they have to say."

During his visit to the region, Mr Hunt also described the planned rollout of free school meals for the first three years of school as 'chaotic'.

The government announced a £1 billion package for free lunches.

The plan is for the meals to be served from September.

Mr Hunt said many school would not be able to start that soon as their kitchens would not be ready.