News Children home as teachers strike
Hundreds of schoolchildren will be at home today as teachers strike in a row over pay.
The National Union of Teachers (NUT) voted to take industrial action in protest at the proposed teachers' pay award, which does not match the current rate of inflation. It will affect 2,000 schools across England and Wales.
The strike will have varying degrees of impact on schools, ranging from full closures to reduced opening hours or no closure at all.
Those affected in our area include Howden School, which will be fully closed, and the partial closures in Snaith School, Gilberdyke Primary, Marshlands Primary, Newport Primary, Parkside Primary, Rawcliffe Primary and North Cave Primary.
The NUT has advised teachers to write to their local MP and raise the union's campaign with their local councillors in response to the recommended pay increase for 2008-2010.
Andrew Williams, head teacher of Howden School, sent letters to parents this week to explain the situation. He said: "I apologise for the inconvenience that this closure will cause.
"However, as I hope you will appreciate, the issue is a national one and outside the control of the school and the local authority."
Steve Sinnott, general secretary of the NUT, said: "Teachers will be worse off. This pay settlement of 2.45 per cent for 2008 is well below the rate of inflation of four per cent.
"This will reduce the standard of living for teachers and exacerbate the problems of recruitment and retention. Teachers have to pay increases in the cost of housing, fuel and food.
"This settlement is in effect a pay cut. There cannot be a return to the days of 'boom and bust' in teachers' pay."
Goole MP Ian Cawsey commented: "It's always disappointing when a dispute ends with strike action, particularly in a school because of the difficulties it causes working parents.
"Teachers' pay is a matter for the independent pay board and it will only be by negotiation that any progress is made."
All students will be expected to attend school as normal tomorrow.
Published on 24th April 2008 in News.
Add to: Digg | del.icio.us | Reddit
Comments
There are currently no comments
Comment
All comments are subject to moderation (during normal office hours) and may be amended.
Email addresses are required for administration purposes only.
By contributing your comments, you accept our terms and conditions.