News / Strike
Hundreds march through city centre as teachers’ pay dispute continues
The sun shone on hundreds of teachers on Wednesday morning as they marched through Bristol as part of the ongoing dispute over their pay.
Starting off on College Green, the members of the National Education Union (NEU) paraded through the city centre on what is the first of two days of strike action.
The group, made up of union members from across the South West, finished their march back at College Green, holding a rally outside City Hall.
is needed now More than ever
Wednesday and Friday mark the seventh and eighth days of strike action by teachers since February, after NEU members rejected a pay and funding offer from the government in April.
Among those taking part in the march was Fran King, a primary school special needs teacher, and Heather Penny-Larter, a secondary school English teacher, both from Swindon.
“All we’re asking is for the government to come and negotiate really, so that we can have our say and a settlement can be made,” said King.
“We’re reasonable but if they won’t listen, there’s nothing else we can do than withdraw our labour and try and make our voices heard this way.”
Penny-Larter added: “And they’re naive if they think we don’t contribute to the economy because there isn’t a direct product.
“Everybody who’s earning anything right now anywhere in this country has been in a school, and teachers have contributed to the economy in that way.”
Teachers including Fran King and Heather Penny-Larter marched through Bristol on Wednesday, holding a rally at College Green afterwards – photo: Charlie Watts
In March, the government offered a £1,000 one-off bonus to teachers in England this year and an average pay rise of 4.5 per cent next year.
But the offer was rejected by 98 per cent of NEU members, who are striking on Wednesday and Friday to continue their campaign to win a fully-funded, above-inflation pay rise.
The independent teacher pay review body has recommended a 6.5 per cent salary increase from September, according to reports, but prime minister Rishi Sunak has hinted he will refuse the recommendation.
Hundreds took part in the march, which marked the seventh day of strike action by teachers since February – photo: Charlie Watts
Speaking during the rally on College Green, Sheila Caffrey, a national executive member for the NEU and a nursery teacher in Hartcliffe, asked: “So will this government pay up, pay us what is a reasonable wage?
She continued: “We have been forced to take this action this week, forced by the Tories and Labour to take this action today, defend education and defend educators.
“We are saying enough is enough. We will continue to fight, we are determined to win, for us, our pupils and the future of education.”
Main photo: Charlie Watts
Read next:
- Bristol teachers strike: ‘Hey Rishi, you’re so tight you make us strike’
- Video: Striking teachers say ‘enough is enough’
- ‘Save our schools’ – thousands of teachers march through Bristol
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