This week we saw the first of the announced industrial action days from members of the National Education Union (NEU). Schools throughout the region took part on Wednesday February 1. The strike was the first for teachers in England and Wales since 2016.
#PayUp #SaveOurSchools
Throughout the country, the narrative has been that teachers have gone on strike over pay disputes. Further walkouts are planned this month and in March if terms can not be agreed upon. On the picket line, teachers held up signs with the NEU’s slogan #PayUp. The NEU is demanding a fully funded, above-inflation pay rise for teachers and support staff, and effective action on pay for supply and other educators.
Secretary of State for Education, Gillian Keegan MP tweeted:
“I am very grateful to Head Teachers for all their work to keep our schools open and to minimise the impact of strike action today. Over 90% of schools were open.”
“One school closure is too many, and it remains deeply disappointing that the NEU proceeded with this disruptive action. But many teachers, Head Teachers and support staff have shown that children’s education and wellbeing must always come first.”
According to government figures of state-funded primary, secondary and special schools ‘more than half of schools (51.7%) in England were either partially closed or closed due to teacher strikes’. The NEU reported that 300,000 members took part.
The day was dubbed Walkout Wednesday as teachers weren’t the only workers striking, with University lecturers, civil servants, train and bus drivers also taking industrial action . It has been suggested around 500,000 workers took part in strikes throughout the country, which would suggest Wednesday to be the biggest day of industrial action in England for a decade.
During the Prime Minister’s Questions on the same day, Rishi Sunak said:
“I am clear that our children’s education is precious and they deserve to be in school today being taught.”
Funding
While #PayUp could possibly promote the narrative that teachers are striking over pay alone, the current issues in education are much more complex and many have stated their choice to strike are bigger than just their own salary as schools themselves are struggling with funding and teacher workload and wellbeing are key concerns.
Chris Zarraga, Director of Schools North East commented:
“Our region’s schools work incredibly hard under pressures that are unique to our region. The problems are much deeper than simply a pay rise. The funding announcements last year for education were welcome, and helped ease the financial pressures related to rising energy costs and unfunded staff pay awards. However, schools are still facing a range of serious challenges. Every school staff member should feel valued and the recruitment and retention crisis in teaching is not simply a result of pay. ”
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