THE LEADER of Flintshire Council hopes disruption from impending teacher strikes will be "kept to a minimum".

Councillor Ian Roberts has issued a statement following news that teachers in Wales will strike on two dates next month.

Thousands of schools in England and Wales are set to close in February after teachers voted to strike.

Action by members of the National Education Union (NEU) will begin with a mass strike on February 1, to coincide with the Trades Union Congress’s national “protect the right to strike” day of action, followed by six days of regional stoppages. In Wales, the second strike will take place on February 14.   

The NEU, which balloted 300,000 of its members, says although it is planning seven days of strike action, any individual school will only be affected on four days. The first day of action on 1 February will affect 23,400 schools in England and Wales.

In Wales, school support staff will also strike after the NEU secured a turnout of more than 51 per cent, with 88 per cent of those voting in favour.

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As the biggest education union in the country, industrial action by NEU members is likely to cause widespread disruption.

Speaking on behalf of the Welsh Local Government Association, Councillor Ian Roberts, said:“Teachers play an integral role in our communities in educating, supporting, and nurturing our young people.

"It is vital that any pay award is balanced between rewarding teachers’ hard work and affordability. Council budgets are already under severe pressure due to rocketing inflation and soaring energy bills.

“Local government is committed to working closely in social partnership with the Welsh Government and the unions to resolve this dispute, and to minimise disruption to education provision.”