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Strike hits one in three schools Schools shut amid public pay fury
(about 2 hours later)
About a third of the schools in England and Wales were disrupted, and one in 10 closed completely during the biggest teachers' strike in 21 years. Nearly a third of schools in England and Wales have been disrupted, and one in 10 closed completely during the biggest teachers' strike in 21 years.
The National Union of Teachers (NUT) said thousands of teachers had obeyed its strike call, showing it had made the "right decision". The National Union of Teachers (NUT) said thousands of members had heeded its strike for a 4.1% pay rise.
The union did not rule out more action in the weeks ahead as it continues its campaign for a 4.1% pay rise. Meanwhile, thousands of civil servants also walked out, disrupting government departments and the coastguard service.
But Gordon Brown described the strike as "unfortunate and regrettable". The public sector unions have not ruled out further strikes against the government's 2% pay target.
This one-day strike, condemned by all the main political parties, affected about 8,000 schools in total, and was the opening move in what the NUT says will be a long-term campaign over pay. Up to 400,000 teachers, lecturers, civil and public servants walked out on Thursday in a one-day protest at what they said were below-inflation wage rises.
Christine Blower, acting general secretary of the NUT, said: "Thousands of our members turned out to support this day of action. It shows the NUT made the right decision to call upon its members to strike." Schools, colleges, government departments and the coastguard service were all affected as members of the NUT and Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) stayed away.
Earlier she told the BBC that she could not rule out further pay strikes in the months ahead. At a rally in London, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said that giving public sector workers below-inflation pay rises "simply wasn't good enough" for a Labour government.
TEACHERS' PAY £20,133 - starting salary (England and Wales)£34,281 - most experienced teachers' salary (outside London)+£4,000 - additional pay for inner London teachers£39,525 - headteachers' starting salaryNearly £100,000 - most experienced headteachers' salary class="" href="/1/hi/business/7364790.stm">Q&A: Public sector pay class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7365206.stm">In pictures: Teachers on streets He said: We need a fundamental change of direction. If the government continues to use the public sector like a political football, I am convinced they will pay a devastating price at the general election."
TEACHERS' PAY £20,133 - starting salary (England and Wales)£34,281 - most experienced teachers' salary (outside London)+£4,000 - additional pay for inner London teachers£39,525 - headteachers' starting salaryNearly £100,000 - most experienced headteachers' salary Q&A: Public sector payIn pictures: Teachers on streetsCivil servants on strike
A Treasury spokesman said the government would continue with its policy of holding public-sector pay settlements at or near to a 2% increase.
He said Gordon Brown was determined to keep pay awards low, in the interest of controlling inflation.
The one-day teachers' strike, which was condemned by all the main political parties, affected up to 9,500 schools. Christine Blower, acting general secretary of the NUT, told the BBC that she could not rule out further pay strikes in the months ahead.
More than 2.5m pupils were estimated to have been affected by Thursday's strike - with more than a million forced to stay at home. Many pupils are studying for GCSE examinations which start next month.More than 2.5m pupils were estimated to have been affected by Thursday's strike - with more than a million forced to stay at home. Many pupils are studying for GCSE examinations which start next month.
The prime minister said the strike had been called by a "minority" of teachers, and said it was regrettable for both pupils and parents. Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the strike had been called by a "minority" of teachers, and said it was regrettable for both pupils and parents.
Mr Brown added: "I hope we can move forward in the next few months and get a sure settlement of this."
Further education colleges in England were also disrupted, as members of the University and College Union (UCU) walked out in protest at their pay settlement.
Hundreds of college departments were closed, and prison education departments were also affected.
Schools lie empty as teachers take to the streetsSchools lie empty as teachers take to the streets
Figures provided by the Department for Children, Schools and Families indicated that 67% of schools in England and Wales remained open on ThursdayFigures provided by the Department for Children, Schools and Families indicated that 67% of schools in England and Wales remained open on Thursday
Twenty-one per cent of schools remained open, but had some of their classes affected, and 12% were closed altogether.Twenty-one per cent of schools remained open, but had some of their classes affected, and 12% were closed altogether.
A DCSF spokesman said: "We are pleased that more than four in five schools were able to remain open today for some or all of their pupils."
As the day of action began, teachers formed picket lines outside schools. Many held banners aloft bearing slogans such as "Where's the money, Darling?" - calling on the chancellor to make more funds available for their pay award.As the day of action began, teachers formed picket lines outside schools. Many held banners aloft bearing slogans such as "Where's the money, Darling?" - calling on the chancellor to make more funds available for their pay award.
But in many schools, where teachers were not members of the NUT, the strike had minimal impact.
The National Association of Headteachers and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (NASUWT) has accepted the pay review body recommendations, and did not support the NUT's day of action.
SCHOOLS HIT BY STRIKE South West: 254 closed or partially closedLiverpool: 187 closed, 213 partially closedLondon: 708 closed, 769 partially closedNorth East: At least 402 closed or partially closedWales: About 500 closed, 400 partially closedWest Midlands: 200 closed, 264 partially closedYorkshire: At least 600 closed or partially closedSCHOOLS HIT BY STRIKE South West: 254 closed or partially closedLiverpool: 187 closed, 213 partially closedLondon: 708 closed, 769 partially closedNorth East: At least 402 closed or partially closedWales: About 500 closed, 400 partially closedWest Midlands: 200 closed, 264 partially closedYorkshire: At least 600 closed or partially closed
In London, police estimated that more than 6,000 teachers and other public sector workers had taken part in a march and rally in Westminster. In London and other cities across England and Wales, thousands of teachers and other public sector workers took part in marches and rallies.
More than 1,000 people gathered for a rally in Birmingham's Victoria Square, where a band played a song from the 1984 miners' strike, "I'd rather be a picket than a scab". The NUT has rejected the a three-year pay deal put forward by an independent pay review body. The deal is worth 2.45% this year, followed by increases of 2.3% in the following years.
Other rallies were staged in Manchester, Liverpool, Preston, Bolton, Leeds, Newcastle, Sheffield, Hull, Cardiff and Wrexham.
HAVE YOUR SAYThis is not a selfish request for higher wages but a need to keep teachers' pay in line with other graduate professions Jenny, LondonSend us your comments
Businesses also felt the effects of the strike, as many working parents forced to stay at home to look after children
Sally Low, from the British Chambers of Commerce, estimated that firms in England and Wales lost at least £68m because of absenteeism.
The NUT has rejected the government's three-year pay deal for teachers: worth 2.45% this year, followed by increases of 2.3% in the following years.
The NUT says the offer represents an erosion of teachers' earnings, and risks adversely affecting the recruitment of quality staff.
Ms Blower said: "Erosion of teachers' pay is now firmly on the public agenda as a result of the strike. We have highlighted the case for pay which at least keeps up with the rate of inflation (4.1%)."
Pay battlePay battle
But ministers say teachers - who earn an average of £34,000 a year - are rewarded adequately, and that parents feel little sympathy for their demands. Ministers say teachers - who earn an average of £34,000 a year - are rewarded adequately, and that their pay has gone up by 19% in real terms since 1997.
The government says teachers' 19% in real terms since 1997. During a visit to a school in Kent the schools secretary Ed Balls said: "I think parents across the country will be frustrated and angry and about the strike and many teachers will have the same view - and I share their frustration." class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">HAVE YOUR SAYThis is not a selfish request for higher wages but a need to keep teachers' pay in line with other graduate professions Jenny, London class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=4667">Send us your comments
During a visit to a school in Kent the schools secretary Ed Balls said: "I think parents across the country will be frustrated and angry and about the strike and many teachers will have the same view - and I share their frustration."
Mr Balls said the government had abided by the findings of the teachers' independent pay review body, which recommended the 2.45% pay award, and he called on the NUT to do the same.
NUT defends teachers' strike
Conservative schools spokesman Nick Gibb said it was "deeply regrettable" so many children would have their education disrupted by this strike, particularly those with important exams coming up.Conservative schools spokesman Nick Gibb said it was "deeply regrettable" so many children would have their education disrupted by this strike, particularly those with important exams coming up.
Liberal Democrat school spokesman David Laws said that teachers should have a no-strike agreement.Liberal Democrat school spokesman David Laws said that teachers should have a no-strike agreement.
"Given the importance of education, we should be trying to move to a presumption that teaching unions will not take strike action," he said."Given the importance of education, we should be trying to move to a presumption that teaching unions will not take strike action," he said.