Members of the National Education Union in London went out on strikefor a fully-funded pay increase in large numbers yesterday with some schools closed.
Brent NEU members were featured in an ITN London News bulletin explaining their case.
'Fully-funded' is a demand that the government increases school budget to enable schools to pay the increase without causing cuts and redundancies. Teachers do not want to get an increase at the expense of worsening education provision and redundancies amongst poorly paid, but vital, largely female, support staff.
A considerable number of Brent schools are facing deficit budgets already and a failure to achieve full-funding will worsen the crisis. Restructuring of staff, creating voluntary redundacies is taking place across the borough.
At the same time the deteriorating salaries and conditions of service of staff, during a cost of living crisis. means that teachers are leaving the profession in droves and management faces huge difficulties in recruiting staff. High house prices or rents mean that young teachers, when they want to start a family, have no choice but to move out of London.
Meanwhile the government is in denial.
There will be another strike on Friday.
Pictures from yesterday's strike (contributed)
