A woman says striking today (February 1) because teachers are "being taken advantage of".
Keri Russell was forced to work "19 or 20 hour days" during Covid. The 48-year-old works as a secondary school Biology teacher, where conditions have been very difficult.
The mum-of-five from Braintree says she "can't really afford to strike" - and doesn't want to - but sees it as necessary. Keri feels teachers' hard work and care is being "taken advantage of" by the Government.
READ MORE: Bristol teachers' strike: First wave of action kicks off as schools closed across city
She still has to work beyond her contracted hours to get everything done. Despite being a subject head at her school, Keri said she is paid similarly now to what she did 20 years ago working for her local government without a degree.
Keri will be joined by thousands of teachers across the country. Dozens of schools will be shut in Bristol today, including primary and secondary schools.
The walkouts, which could see more than 100,000 teachers go on strike, is the first of seven days of action planned by the NEU in February and March.
The National Education Union has said it will hold further strikes on:
- Tuesday, 14 February (just Wales)
- Tuesday, 28 February (Northern, North West, and Humber regions),
- Wednesday, 1 March (East Midlands, Western, Eastern regions)
- Thursday, 2 March (London, South East, South West regions)
- Wednesday, 15 March (England and Wales)
- Thursday, 16 March (England and Wales)
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