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Teachers could strike over pay
19/ 3/2008
MORE than 1,000 teachers across Rochdale are being urged to take strike action over pay.
Members of the National Union of Teachers could go on strike for the first time in 21 years next month, forcing schools to close.
The threat of a national teachers’ strike has been raised after a new pay deal for classroom staff was announced by the government.
A 2.45 per cent below-inflation increase has been recommended by the Schoolteachers Pay Review body, which is below the real cost of living according to the NUT.
In response, the National Union of Teachers is preparing for a one-day strike on 24 April, which could involve more than 50 per cent of teachers in Rochdale.
Nick Wigmore, of the Rochdale NUT executive committee, said that while strike action would have a short-term effect on the education of pupils in Rochdale, that was nothing compared to the ‘damaging effect on hard working, underpaid teachers leaving the profession for better-paid jobs.’
He said the prospect of below-inflation pay awards would have an enormous effect on teachers.
Mr Wigmore said: "We are taking this very, very seriously. Teachers’ pay is part of the overall investment in education and we are concerned that teachers are moving out of the profession at a rate of 50 per cent in the first three years of education.
"The problem is retaining teachers and recruiting, if the pay doesn’t keep up."
He added: "Ballot papers have been sent out and the ballot will end at the end of March. All members have been balloted and we are keen for them to support strike action.
"We are not jumping into this readily. The outcome could be that schools would risk assess if they should stay open.
"And many schools could be forced into closure.
"Primary schools would find it difficult to stay open and secondary schools likewise."
Director of education Terry Piggott said: "We don’t have a view on this at the moment."
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20/03/2008 at 19:15
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