Barking and Dagenham teachers join in march for education

Teachers headed to central London last week to protest changes the Government proposes to make to teacher pay, pensions and working conditions.

Education secretary Michael Gove has called for a continued pay freeze for teachers, a 3.5 per cent increase in their pension contributions and increased working hours.

Almost 3,000 schools in the north-west of England were affected by the first in a wave of strikes on Thursday (27).

Meanwhile union members at Barking and Dagenham schools showed support for those striking by wearing green campaign t-shirts and marching through London along with colleagues from across the capital.

Teacher unions NUT and NASUWT have commenced a programme of regional strikes which will arrive in London in the Autumn term.

Christine Blower, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said: ““Teachers know that this campaign is about standing up for education. As the brilliant marches and rallies in the North West show, there is widespread support for the campaign. Government education policies have to change. Teachers together will defend education.”