This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/education/7363718.stm
The article has changed 26 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Strike disrupts third of schools | Strike disrupts third of schools |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| The first national teachers' strike for two decades is set to disrupt a third of schools in England and Wales. | The first national teachers' strike for two decades is set to disrupt a third of schools in England and Wales. |
| A survey of 140 local authorities shows that at least 8,000 schools will be closed or partially closed. | A survey of 140 local authorities shows that at least 8,000 schools will be closed or partially closed. |
| Rallies will be held by the National Union of Teachers around the country, demanding a 4.1% pay increase rather than the 2.45% on offer. | Rallies will be held by the National Union of Teachers around the country, demanding a 4.1% pay increase rather than the 2.45% on offer. |
| Schools Minister Jim Knight says parents will be "frustrated and inconvenienced" by the strike. | Schools Minister Jim Knight says parents will be "frustrated and inconvenienced" by the strike. |
| This one-day strike is the opening move in what the teachers' union says will be a long-term campaign over pay. | This one-day strike is the opening move in what the teachers' union says will be a long-term campaign over pay. |
| Widespread disruption | Widespread disruption |
| Local authorities have been warning parents about disruption - and a survey of eight out of 10 councils showed that 33% of schools are expected to be affected. This could mean lost lessons in schools teaching more than 2.5 million pupils. | Local authorities have been warning parents about disruption - and a survey of eight out of 10 councils showed that 33% of schools are expected to be affected. This could mean lost lessons in schools teaching more than 2.5 million pupils. |
| TEACHERS' STRIKE Schools so far facing disruption class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7364132.stm">Thousands in civil service strike | |
| According to the Local Government Association, about half of the disrupted schools will be closed entirely to pupils - with the others closed for individual classes or year groups. | According to the Local Government Association, about half of the disrupted schools will be closed entirely to pupils - with the others closed for individual classes or year groups. |
| The numbers of schools facing closure or loss of lessons rose sharply in the 24 hours before the strike. In Birmingham, the number almost doubled to 138 schools. | The numbers of schools facing closure or loss of lessons rose sharply in the 24 hours before the strike. In Birmingham, the number almost doubled to 138 schools. |
| Widespread disruption is also expected to schools in Leeds, Manchester, Cumbria, Suffolk, Nottinghamshire and inner London. But many other schools will be unaffected - as the strike is only being staged by the NUT without the support of other teachers' unions. | Widespread disruption is also expected to schools in Leeds, Manchester, Cumbria, Suffolk, Nottinghamshire and inner London. But many other schools will be unaffected - as the strike is only being staged by the NUT without the support of other teachers' unions. |
| The NUT is protesting against a pay deal that they say represents an erosion of earnings. Teachers have been offered a three-year deal worth 2.45% this year and then increases of 2.3% in the following years. | The NUT is protesting against a pay deal that they say represents an erosion of earnings. Teachers have been offered a three-year deal worth 2.45% this year and then increases of 2.3% in the following years. |
| "What we're saying to the government is, if you really do value teachers, then make sure that they're paid at least at the level of inflation - which we take to be the RPI, which is 4.1%," says the union's acting head, Christine Blower. | "What we're saying to the government is, if you really do value teachers, then make sure that they're paid at least at the level of inflation - which we take to be the RPI, which is 4.1%," says the union's acting head, Christine Blower. |
| Pay battle | Pay battle |
| The teachers' union leader says that school staff must not be forced to pay the price in lower earnings for pressures on public sector pay. | The teachers' union leader says that school staff must not be forced to pay the price in lower earnings for pressures on public sector pay. |
| But the government rejects the complaint - arguing that parents will not be sympathetic. | But the government rejects the complaint - arguing that parents will not be sympathetic. |
| "I think parents are bewildered because they hear that the average teacher earns about £34,000," said Schools Minister Jim Knight. | "I think parents are bewildered because they hear that the average teacher earns about £34,000," said Schools Minister Jim Knight. |
| "Their pay has gone up by 19% in real terms since 1997 and that at 2.45% theyâre getting more than the 2% benchmark for public sector pay last year and that itâs a reasonable deal. | "Their pay has gone up by 19% in real terms since 1997 and that at 2.45% theyâre getting more than the 2% benchmark for public sector pay last year and that itâs a reasonable deal. |
| âThe three-year pay award was a recommendation of an independent pay review body... we canât re-open that process," said the schools minister. Shadow Schools Minister Nick Gibb condemned the timing of the strike, when "many children have important exams coming up soon and can't afford to miss crucial lessons". | âThe three-year pay award was a recommendation of an independent pay review body... we canât re-open that process," said the schools minister. Shadow Schools Minister Nick Gibb condemned the timing of the strike, when "many children have important exams coming up soon and can't afford to miss crucial lessons". |
| Teachers should have a no-strike agreement, argued the Liberal Democrat school spokesman, David Laws. | Teachers should have a no-strike agreement, argued the Liberal Democrat school spokesman, David Laws. |
| Are you a student who will be affected by the strike? Are you having to make arrangements to look after children? Is your school closing? Send us your comments by filling out the form below. | Are you a student who will be affected by the strike? Are you having to make arrangements to look after children? Is your school closing? Send us your comments by filling out the form below. |