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| Teachers go on strike in four English regions | Teachers go on strike in four English regions |
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| Thousands of teachers are taking part in a one-day strike in a row over pay, pensions and working conditions. | |
| Tens of thousands of schoolchildren are expected to be affected by the strike, which is taking place across four English regions on Tuesday. | |
| The industrial action – the latest in a wave of regional strikes – has been organised by two of England's biggest teaching unions, the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and the NASUWT. | The industrial action – the latest in a wave of regional strikes – has been organised by two of England's biggest teaching unions, the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and the NASUWT. |
| The government has condemned the move, saying it is disappointed that the unions have decided to strike. The walkout will affect schools in 49 local authorities in the east of England, the East Midlands, West Midlands and Yorkshire and Humberside. | The government has condemned the move, saying it is disappointed that the unions have decided to strike. The walkout will affect schools in 49 local authorities in the east of England, the East Midlands, West Midlands and Yorkshire and Humberside. |
| Chris Keates, the NASUWT general secretary, said: "The overwhelming majority of teachers in four regions will be on strike today. Strike action is a last resort, teachers have been left with no choice but to demonstrate their anger and frustration in the face of their genuine concerns being dismissed and trivialised." | Chris Keates, the NASUWT general secretary, said: "The overwhelming majority of teachers in four regions will be on strike today. Strike action is a last resort, teachers have been left with no choice but to demonstrate their anger and frustration in the face of their genuine concerns being dismissed and trivialised." |
| Christine Blower, the NUT general secretary, said: "No teacher takes strike action lightly but the intransigence of this education secretary has left teachers with no choice. We cannot stand by and watch our profession be systematically attacked and undermined. There needs to be a change in the government's attitude to teachers and education." | Christine Blower, the NUT general secretary, said: "No teacher takes strike action lightly but the intransigence of this education secretary has left teachers with no choice. We cannot stand by and watch our profession be systematically attacked and undermined. There needs to be a change in the government's attitude to teachers and education." |
| A DfE spokeswoman said: "It is disappointing that the NUT and NASUWT are striking over the government's measures to allow heads to pay good teachers more." | A DfE spokeswoman said: "It is disappointing that the NUT and NASUWT are striking over the government's measures to allow heads to pay good teachers more." |
| The spokeswoman said that in a recent poll 61% of those questioned backed linking teachers' pay to performance, a key government reform currently being introduced. The survey also found that the majority of respondents were opposed to the walkouts or thought teachers should not be allowed to strike. | The spokeswoman said that in a recent poll 61% of those questioned backed linking teachers' pay to performance, a key government reform currently being introduced. The survey also found that the majority of respondents were opposed to the walkouts or thought teachers should not be allowed to strike. |
| "All strikes will do is disrupt parents' lives, hold back children's education and damage the reputation of the profession," the spokeswoman said. | "All strikes will do is disrupt parents' lives, hold back children's education and damage the reputation of the profession," the spokeswoman said. |
| The first regional strike took place in the north-west on 27 June, and further strikes are expected on 17 October in the north-east, south-east, south-west and London. The two unions have also announced plans for a national one-day strike before Christmas. | |
| On Monday workers in crown post offices went on strike in a row over jobs, pay and closures. Strike threats also remain within the fire service and over Royal Mail privatisation. | |
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