The North East public has issued messages of support to teachers who are undertaking their first day of strike action today.
Members of the National Education Union (NEU) are taking industrial action on February 1 in a dispute over pay, with further walkouts planned in February and March. Guidance from the Department for Education suggests agency staff and volunteers could be used to cover classes on strike days, with schools expected to remain open where possible.
The NEU's members voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action "as a result of failure by the Secretary of State in England and the employers in Wales to ensure enough money is available to pay a fully-funded increase in pay for teachers which at least matches inflation, and which begins to restore lost pay".
Read more: List of North East schools set to close due to teachers' strike on Wednesday
Now, in response to the strikes, several people across the North East have used the 38 Degrees campaign groups to send messages of support to teachers who have chosen to strike in the coming weeks. At the time of writing, more than 37,000 people have signed the open letter addressed to all striking teachers, with almost 9,000 leaving messages of support.
Some, like Mary Davidson, from Berwick, said they backed industrial action despite the disruption it caused them. Mary said: "I know that striking is the last thing that you want to do, but this Government has left you no other option.
"I shall be looking after my granddaughter on strike days, so her parents can work. I support your action despite the burden on me."
Others, like Pat Snowdon of Wansbeck, were retired teachers who showed their solidarity with current educators. Pat said: "As a retired teacher who spent 40 years in the profession, I can understand why you have been driven to take strike action.
"It's not just about pay It's about excessive workload, loss of autonomy, a curriculum at the mercy of successive Education Secretaries, league tables, crumbling buildings...I hope that, one day soon, teaching can, once again, become the wonderful vocation I loved so many years ago!"
Linda Gilmore from Sunderland added: "As a retired teacher I completely understand how difficult it has been for any teacher to agree with this strike action but this government has given the teachers and other public sector workers no choice! If the government does not avert action urgently it will clearly demonstrate how little they care about our children."
Martin Towler of Hexham used the petition to thank teachers and said: "This country completely undervalues the great work you do for our children and grandchildren. They are the future of our country, so thank you. It's about time our Government recognised this."
Lory Kingsland of Newcastle made reference to the current cost of living crisis. She said: "Teachers are educating future generations. They need to be concentrating on getting it right. Not worrying how they are going to pay the mortgage. Or how to put food on the table.
"Or how to pay other household spiralling costs. They need to be paid their worth after years studying to become a teacher. We need to keep trained teachers in the profession, not lose them to other higher paid jobs."
Veronica Hawking, 38 Degrees' head of campaigns added: "As a parent, I see how hard teachers work, day in, day out, to give our children the best possible start in life. I know that teachers in the North East want to be in the classroom, not on the picket lines.
"But I also know that they’ve been left in an impossible position by the Government. With people leaving the profession in droves, classrooms crumbling, and schools struggling to recruit qualified staff, teachers have been left with no choice but to take a stand, for themselves and for their pupils.
"The disruption to our children’s education over the past few years has been worrying and exhausting - no parent relishes the thought of even more lost days. But unless the Government gets around the table to give teachers the pay deal they deserve, children across the country won’t be getting the education that they deserve."
Gillian Keegan, Education Secretary, issued a statement on the strikes which read: "It is hugely disappointing the NEU is continuing with strike action. These strikes will have a significant impact on children’s education, especially following the disruption of the past two years, and are creating huge uncertainly for parents.
"With talks ongoing on a range of issues, including around future pay, workload, behaviour and recruitment and retention, it is clear that strikes are not being used as a last resort. I have been clear today that unions do not need to strike to meet with me.
"I also reiterated my call to union leaders to ask their members to let head teachers know if they intend to strike, helping schools to minimise the impact on children. I will continue doing everything possible to protect children’s education."
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