Teachers are having to buy resources for their schools and pupils despite struggling with low pay during the cost of living crisis due to a lack of investment.
Nine different unions took part in the strike action today, which saw schools closed and governmental departments shutdown, including; PCS, GMB, UNITE and all the teachers’ unions, UTU, NASUWT, INTO, NEU and NAHT. "We have mortgages, rent, childcare costs and other bills that we need to manage and it has not got to the point where many teachers are considered working poor.
Siobhan McElhinney, Chair of the Northern Branch of the INTO, said that cuts to budgets and a lack of investment were another key factor in the strikes and highlighted the measures that teachers are going to in order to plug funding gaps. "The cuts to the extended schools programme for example will also have a huge impact on our pupils as they will now lose out on breakfast clubs and after school activities that can make such a difference for their education, especially during the cost of living crisis.
"But what you do know is that we try to do our best for your children. To give them a good education and make school a warm and welcoming community, where staff know and understand them and you. Where we give them continuity and stability, with enough specialist teachers, who know their subjects. And the proper resources to help them learn and grow.