Teachers Strike Update

 

Strike to hit hundreds of schools

Teachers are on strike over a pay deal

A national teachers’ strike is affecting hundreds of schools across West Yorkshire.

The walkout over pay - the first in 21 years - is being staged by The National Union of Teachers (NUT).

More than 400 schools in West Yorkshire have been affected, with about 8,000 hit across England and Wales.

Members want a 4.1% pay increase rather than the 2.45% currently on offer. Hundreds of teachers will join a rally at Bradford City Football Club later.

Pay battle

The NUT is protesting against a pay deal that they say represents an erosion of earnings. Teachers have been offered a three-year deal worth 2.45% this year and then increases of 2.3% in the following years.

Christine Blower, the union’s acting head, said: ” What we’re saying to the government is, if you really do value teachers, then make sure that they’re paid at least at the level of inflation - which we take to be the RPI, which is 4.1%.”

But the government has rejected the complaint - arguing that parents will not be sympathetic.

“I think parents are bewildered because they hear that the average teacher earns about £34,000,” said schools minister Jim Knight.

“Their pay has gone up by 19% in real terms since 1997 and that at 2.45% they’re getting more than the 2% benchmark for public sector pay last year and that it’s a reasonable deal.”