Teacher's Union Invites Parents To Strike Alongside Them On February 1

Tuesday, 31 January 2023 06:09

Thousands of teachers who are members of the National Education Union will take strike action on Wednesday 1st February across East Sussex and Brighton.

This is alongside hundreds of thousands more nationwide as well as civil servants, university lecturers and train drivers.

The strike will see schools closing across the area as teachers take action over a fully funded pay rise.

Teachers' pay had been repeatedly cut over the last decade with the latest pay award the worst yet.

This is having a significant impact on schools being able to recruit and retain teacher and the government has once again missed its recruitment targets. The issue is particularly acute in Sussex where rents and housing costs are some of the highest in the country.

The strike is also over a fully funded rise as teachers in the NEU reject the government position of schools finding the money for pay event below inflation pay awards out of current budgets, which cuts education provision by forcing schools to cut elsewhere.

Local secondary school teacher and NEU national Vice President Phil Clarke explained:

“Every year we present comprehensive evidence to the government about how cutting our pay in real terms means our schools can’t recruit and retain enough teachers. Parents know this when they hear that their children are being taught by non-specialists in important subjects or their teachers change frequently as staff move out of the profession.

"Yet year on year the government has ignored this. We have been left no choice but to strike and our ballot result – the biggest by any union since the government brought in even stricter laws restricting the right to strike in 2016 - shows how determined our member are to stand up for their pupils and themselves. “

“We invite parents and families to join our demonstrations and rallies on the 1^st February”.

East Sussex and Brighton Demonstrations

Brighton 11am the Level

Eastbourne 11am Hyde Gardens

Hastings 11am The Pier