Union bosses missed talk to avert strikes because they were on holiday

Union boss missed vital pay talks with the government to avert strikes because he was on a cruise in the Norwegian fjords while another was on holiday in Somerset during key meeting

• NEU joint general secretary Kevin Courtney enjoyed country walks in Somerset
• Read more: Rishi Sunak to step in with new law to stop school strike mayhem 

Union bosses were on holiday while the Government was trying to arrange crunch talks to avert strikes, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

National Education Union (NEU) joint general secretary Mary Bousted was on a cruise on the Norwegian fjords when the Government offered formal talks to pre-empt strike action.

The other general secretary, Kevin Courtney, was in Somerset enjoying country walks and ‘lovely weather’ during another key meeting over half-term.

Mrs Bousted is understood to have missed a summit with Education Secretary Gillian Keegan while she was on holiday. 

Mary Bousted, Joint General-Secretary of the NEU, speaks at a rally in central London

Mr Courtney, who did attend, said at the time that there was little ‘hope’ of a deal being struck. 

He is believed to have been difficult to reach during a later high-stakes meeting with officials while he was on holiday in Somerset. 

The NEU is also believed to have only sent a representative to a key negotiation despite every other union sending a leader. 

Their trips came as unions were expected to announce yesterday whether they would press ahead with strikes next week.

On strike days, it is likely thousands of schools will close or partially close. The NEU is demanding an above-inflation pay rise for its members.

When asked about her trip yesterday, Ms Bousted said: ‘I made arrangements to fly back… if there were to be discussions in person.’

Mr Courtney said of his break: ‘I did attend all the talks with the [Government], via [Microsoft] Teams.’

He added that he also recorded videos, did interviews and took calls during his holiday.

‘And I told civil servants that I would return immediately for talks in person if the Govt agreed to them. But they didn’t,’ he stated.

He then posted a series of pictures of his holiday on Facebook – including one in which he is sat in front of a computer with a half-full wine glass in front of him.

Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the NEU, speaking to the media at the Department For Education

Tens of thousands of teachers left their posts and stood on picket lines in a general strike in all but name on February 1.

Dubbed ‘Walkout Wednesday’, they joined 100,000 civil servants, 70,000 university staff and thousands of train drivers and Border Force officers in staging industrial action.

The disruption has prompted ministers to urgently examine whether to tighten the law to close a loophole that prevents headteachers from knowing which staff are taking part in strikes.

The action caused misery for parents, many of whom were left in limbo after the union encouraged teachers to refuse to tell heads in advance whether they would turn up for work.

It meant some schools were forced to close unnecessarily, disrupting their pupils’ education and forcing parents to take unpaid leave or pay for extra childcare.

Last night, Tory MP and former headteacher Brendan Clarke-Smith said: ‘The Government has made a decent offer to the NEU but they are not postponing strike action and coming to the table to hold meaningful talks.

‘Instead, their leaders are off enjoying Norwegian cruises and long country walks when they should be trying to resolve this.’

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