Thousands of teachers are set to strike in Essex and Suffolk next week as part of a national row over pay and conditions.

Members of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) will walk out on July 5 after voting by more than 9-1 in favour of industrial action.

The Government is being urged to hold talks with union leaders in a bid to avert the planned strike – a position held by Suffolk County Council.

The union said its demands were to increase funding to schools and education, guarantee terms and conditions in all types of schools, and to resume negotiations on teacher contracts around workload.

It has called for “meaningful” discussions to tackle issues it said were negatively affecting education.

Graham White, secretary of the Suffolk NUT, said: “I would expect all NUT members in Suffolk to be on strike – more than 3,000.

“Nobody knows how many will go on strike and many will make the decision at the last minute. That is why our advice to headteachers is to look at the number of NUT members in the school and make a judgement as to whether the school can operate without those members being there.

“We hope no school will bring in strike breakers.”

He said teachers had been “pushed into this situation” due to fears over funding for schools and teacher recruitment and retention.

He added: “This is the biggest threat ever to the recruitment and retention of teachers, and the massive underfunding of education, so teachers will be on strike. It is regrettable it has come to this.

“But Nicky Morgan [education secretary] has it in her powers to stop the strike by restoring funding, and national pay and conditions.”

Margaret Bulaitis, Ipswich NUT secretary, said their members are “fearful” for the future of education and said the strike in Ipswich is expected to be “well supported”.

A rally will take place in the town centre at 10.30am followed by a ‘Stand Up For Education Picnic’ in Christchurch Park.

She said: “There will be creative activities at the picnic for the children to take part in as a way of highlighting what’s increasingly missing from education due to the narrowing down of the curriculum – something that will only get worse when schools’ budgets are drastically cut.”

Jerry Glazier, Essex NUT national executive member, said he expected every school in the county to be affected in some way.

A Department for Education spokesman said: “It is disappointing the NUT has chosen to continue with this unnecessary and damaging strike, despite our ongoing commitment to formal talks.

“Industrial action causes disruption to education, to parents who have to take time out of work, and damages the reputation of the profession. We urge the NUT to work with us instead of playing politics.”