UK refusal to raise teachers pay forces more strikes

Saeed Pourreza
Press TV, London

It's “Walkout Thursday” in Britain as tens of thousands of teachers walk off the job once again.

This is day three of a nationwide strike that has forced the full or partial closure of thousands of schools, affecting millions of students.

These teachers like many others across the country are here to make sure their voices are heard. They are among those launching a wave of industrial action across different sectors of the economy all calling for government pay rises that match soaring inflation.

Teachers unions are also hitting out at leaked text messages between disgraced former health minister Matt Hancock and former education minister Gavin Williamson in which the latter describes teachers as skivers; that in addition to a leaked report last year that hundreds of schools in England were dilapidated and at risk of collapsing. Despite that and a massive strike last month, the government hasn't budged.

To the National Education Union who accuse the government of refusing meaningful talks that is simply not true.

The next strike is planned for March 15. If there's no movement on pay, we're likely to see more strikes and protests not just from teachers but also workers in other key professions who at least for now enjoy broad public support.

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