Teachers in Suffolk and Essex are set to join local government workers in a day of strikes next month.

The National Executive of the National Union of Teacher has agreed today (Thursday) to take action in England and wales on Thursday, July 10, alongside other unions representing public sector workers.

Christine Blower, the NUT’s general secretary, said: “The Government is still failing to make progress on our trade dispute over teachers’ pay, pensions and workload.

“The talks are still only about the implementation of Government policies, not about the fundamental issues we believe to be detrimental to education and the profession.

“For teachers, performance related pay, working until 68 for a full pension and heavy workload for 60 hours a week, is unsustainable.

“This action is the responsibility of a Government and education secretary who are refusing point blank to accept the damage their reforms are doing to the teaching profession.

“The consequences of turning teaching into a totally unattractive career choice will most certainly lead to teacher shortages.”

Ms Blower said strike action was a “last resort” and the date had been chosen to minimise disruptions to exams.

She called upon Michael Gove, the education secretary, to “engage in serious negotiations on substantive issues” to bring an end to the strikes.

Unison, GMB and Unite are planning to call upon members working in local government and education to take strike action on the same day.