Teachers, university staff, and bus and train drivers went on strike across Lincolnshire on Wednesday over pay and work conditions.
At least 200 people marched down Lincoln High Street in protest of how they were being treated by employers.
Many said they’d been left with no other option after the government failed to listen.
The strike included the National Education Union (the country’s biggest union of teachers), the University and College Union, and the RMT, which represents train and bus drivers.
Representatives from other unions also marched in solidarity.
Half a million people are estimated to have taken part in industrial action across the country.
There was disruption as some schools partially-closed, trains were unable to run and some university courses were affected
Showing their support at the event were the City of Lincoln Council leader Ric Metcalfe, Labour MP nominee Hamish Falconer and local councillors Chris Burke and Emily Wood.
Teachers
Jill Evans (centre) and other NEU members on strike | Photo: Daniel Jaines/LDRS
Lincolnshire NEU member Jill Evans, who was striking for the first time, said she was worried about cuts to education.
“It’s not about pay, it’s about TAs that aren’t funded properly and would earn more in supermarkets than classrooms,” she said.
“Teachers can’t do their jobs because of the lack of funding, and it’s the children who suffer as a result.
“We already work holidays, weekends and evenings, and don’t have any work-life balance.
“We’re ready to talk, but I’m not sure if the government are ready to listen.”
Others held placards saying: “Won’t somebody think of the children?” and “Save our schools”.
University staff
Teachers, university staff and RMT workers marched through Lincoln | Photo: Steve Smailes for the Lincolnite
Owen Clayton, the branch UCU chair, described university staff as overworked, underpaid and worried about their future.
“Our pay is down by a quarter since 2009. We have asked for a rise that’s at least in line with inflation,” he said.
“We’ve got an absolutely unsustainable workload which is making people ill. Staff are going off sick with stress or being hospitalised.
“We’ve also got a huge number of staff on insecure, casual contracts who never know how much work they’re going to have each year. No one can have any certainty which is extremely stressful.”
Andy Rowcroft said he had seen conditions get “worse and worse”, and “workload has become a major issue” with ever larger seminar classes.
Transport workers
Unions marched through Lincoln | Photo: Steve Smailes for the Lincolnite
The railworkers’ RMT union is continuing a series of train strikes in the hope of better pay.
Trade union representatives at the march said there was public support for this often-unpopular move.
Calvin Bissitt, secretary for Lincolnshire Trades Council said: “Lincoln isn’t considered a hotbed of union activity and it demonstrates how pressing the cost of living crisis is, and how strongly people feel about the need for people to be paid fairly.
“As much as the government tries to make it about pay, it’s about more than that. The average income isn’t something people can live on.”
Tina Green, representing the RMT and Lincoln & District Trade Unions, said: “I would like to say the government is listening, but I’m not convinced.
She said they would be undeterred, adding: “The worst thing we can do is wear them down.”
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Exciting news for MyLocal app users and The Lincolnite readers! Our latest update is now available to download from your app store and comes packed with the best local news experience you can enjoy.
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