Teachers strike in Lincoln pub rally

Teachers and National Union of Teachers (NUT) representatives from Lincolnshire took part in a national strike on Wednesday, March 26 and hosted a rally at a Lincoln pub.

Around 15 teachers, union leaders and members of the public met at the Stags Head pub on Newport to campaign against teachers’ workloads, pay and pension changes.

As previously reported, teachers and unions members across the country took part in the strike and many schools in Lincolnshire were closed or partially closed as a result. In Lincoln, 4 schools were partially closed.

Regional Officer for the National Union of Teachers, Nick Raine, said: “There has been a tax on education for some time now. We have been asking the Educational Secretary Michael Gove to speak to us about that and at the moment he refuses to do so.

“There’s a record number of unqualified staff, there are schools being set up in office blocks, there has been a tax on teachers pay and conditions and there is a record number of teachers leaving. Soon there will be a mass shortage of qualified staff.

“50% of teachers now leave after the first few years so its a huge waste of public money and it’s destroying education.

“The changes are detrimental to children. The strike is an inconvenience to people but if Mr Gove promised to tackle the issues we wouldn’t be striking.

“Unfortunately the only way for us to gain publicity is to take strike action but teachers are scared to stand up for fear of parents’ views and the pressure put on my employers.”

Arthur Schultz, who is a teacher at a school in Grimsby, said: “What I would like to see is a meaningful consultation with those who know best about education, those who are on the ground, with the students.

“I’m not striking for teachers, I’m doing this for the students and for the future of this career. I’m worried about the work load that’s being put on staff. If we are shattered from work load and old age, there is no way we can give the attention and enthusiasm to the children that they deserve.”

Matthew O’Neil, who is a teacher in Horncastle, said: “The idea of teaching 30 teenagers at the age of 68 is frankly ridiculous. The government are trying to get us to give more and take less.

“I have two children myself and I think they benefit from having young vibrant teachers. I know it can be tough when strikes cause inconvenience but we have to stand up to the government.”