Schools close classes as striking teachers stage town protest march

By Lilly Croucher

THOUSANDS of students at schools across Tunbridge Wells will be affected by strike action today (February 1) as teachers stage a walk out and demand a pay rise.

Students this morning will be finding out whether their school will be impacted by the industrial action. It is unclear how many schools will be affected as teachers are under no obligation to tell their head teachers if they are taking part in the strikes.

Some schools have already indicated that that they will be partially closing due to the walkouts, expecting to impact more than 3,000 students.

Workload

These schools include The Skinners School, where years 10-13 will be open, Tunbridge Wells Girls Grammar School, (years 7, 11 and 13), and St Gregory’s Catholic School, (years 11 and 13), with picket lines being staged outside the gates from 7.30am – 9.30am.

Teachers from across Tunbridge Wells will be meeting for a rally in Calverley Grounds at 2pm and will walk to the Millennium Clock Tower at 2.30pm for a march at 3pm.

Members of the National Education Union (NEU) voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action last week with over 90 per cent of teachers voting ‘yes’ to strike action, the largest majority ever achieved by any union in the UK.

Tom Hoskins, Joint Secretary for West Kent told the Times: “We are striking so we can spread the message that under this current government, the education system is in trouble.

“The pay rises we have been given are underfunded with many schools having to cut other resources to pay teachers.

“The job is no longer enticing for graduates and the teacher retention is very low because of the increased workload and low financial reward.

“The School Teachers Review Board (STRB) is meant to be an independent body that gives pay recommendations to the government but how can it be independent when the broad is appointed by the government.

“We don’t want to strike but we had very little choice because the government won’t sit down with us and get around the table.”

The unions claim that since 2010, teachers have lost 23 percent and support staff 27 percent in real terms (there analysts dispute the figure).

Teachers are leaving the profession with a third leaving the education sector within five years of qualifying, according to the union.

The NEU reported that the average pay rise for teachers this year was five percent, seven percent behind inflation, and is asking the government for a ‘fully funded, above inflation pay rise’.

Nick Childs, Senior Regional Officer from the NEU told the Times: “In our ongoing campaign for a fully funded, above inflation pay rise, teacher members of the National Education Union in Kent have voted overwhelmingly for strike action and the ballot has successfully surpassed the restrictive thresholds set by Government for strike action.

“We are striking as a last resort and regret the disruption caused to the public. We have repeatedly called on the Government to negotiate on pay and school funding, but they continually refuse to do so.

“With two in five teachers leaving the profession in the first five years, the impact of real terms pay cuts since 2010 is unsustainable and causing real damage to our education system across the county.

Action

“Coupled with a nine percent cut in education funding since 2010 our members have had enough of the neglect of our children’s education and the teaching profession by this government.

“Our members have served notice of strike action on February 1 and March 2, 15, 16 and action will likely affect all 649 schools in the County.”

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) will also be demonstrating in Tunbridge Wells today (February 1) as part of its ‘Protect the Right to Strike day’ to raise awareness of new government legislation that will restrict industrial action.

Other unions striking today are train drivers from ASLEF and RMT, Civil Servant (PCS) and university lecturers (UCU). For national news coverage on the teacher strikes see page 10.