MEMBERS of the National Union of Teachers have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action over pay.

The one-day walkout, set for April 24, will be the first national NUT stoppage for 21 years.

Teachers are angry at the government's 2.45 per cent pay rise for 2008, which is below the current 4.1 per cent for inflation.

Bournemouth NUT secretary David Morgan said: "There is a lot of angst among teachers at the moment, particularly around pay and workload.

"Recruitment and retention is a massive issue - the average teacher is paid £3,000 to £4,000 less than other graduate professions.

"If we want to attract new teachers into the profession we have to pay them a decent wage.

"The NUT is the biggest teaching union in England and Wales and we have the support of other unions such as Unison."

NUT general secretary Steve Sinnott called on the government to think again and ensure that salaries at least keep pay in line with inflation.

He added: "Young teachers need to be treated fairly. Paying them at levels which are not competitive with those of other graduate professions and making them unable to take even their first step on the housing ladder will damage recruitment."

Voting was 48, 217 (75 per cent) in favour of the strike and 15,884 (25 per cent) against on a 32 per cent turnout.

According to a Department for Children, Schools and Families spokesman, the pay award was recommended by the independent school Teachers Review Body.

The spokesman said: "It was welcomed by all the other teaching unions, so it is disappointing that a small proportion of teachers are threatening to disrupt children's education in this way."