Teachers in pay walkout

The two biggest teaching unions today voted to strike over pay in London, threatening chaos for pupils and parents.

Strike votes over London allowances announced today by the National Union of Teachers and the NASUWT teaching union will pose the first major crisis for new Education Secretary Charles Clarke.

Schools across the capital could face near-total shutdown in a one-day strike on 26 November.

It will be seen as a slap in the face for the new minister, who has already hit out at union militants, accusing them of ruining the reputation of the teaching profession.

NUT general secretary Doug McAvoy said: "To Charles Clarke, my message is don't be tough on teachers but be tough for teachers. The solution is in your grasp; increase London allowances."

The third main classroom teaching union, the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, is due to ballot on industrial action shortly over the same issue. All three unions are demanding the London allowance be doubled, from just over £3,000 to £6,000 - the same as police officers.

The teachers' action could coincide with a national firefighters' strike. The Fire Brigades Union has warned that if pay talks break down, they will go ahead with a series of strikes beginning 6 November until Christmas, including an eight-day stoppage from 22-30 November.

The Tube and mainline railways could also see staff walk out, on safety grounds, because regular fire cover has been withdrawn.

In March, a one-day strike by the NUT meant at least half a million children missed classes. That strike, the first over pay in the capital for 30 years, closed half of all London's schools.

The London dispute comes against the background of mounting militancy over national pay rates. All three unions have tabled a claim for a "substantial" increase in pay this year, turning their backs on the Government's offer of a three-year deal, intended to defuse rows over pay until after the next general election. The NUT is demanding 10 per cent.

Senior Government sources said ministers would not give in to the threat of industrial action. A source said: "Industrial action does nothing but damage education and damage children.

"We are working to address the issues of teachers' pay and conditions, but we will not respond to the threat of industrial action."

News of the action came as Mr Clarke admitted this year's exams chaos risks being repeated next year because of a shortage of examiners.

In his first speech since taking over from Estelle Morris, he acknowledged that thousands of teachers could give up their part-time role as examiners, plunging the exams system into a new crisis.