Teachers in England strike over pay and pensions

Thousands of schools are now closed as teachers take strike action in a row over pay, pensions and workloads.

12:28 01 October 2013

Members of NUT and NASUWT, which are two of the biggest teaching unions in the country, have launched a strike over pay, pensions and workload.

Because of this, at least 2,500 schools are now closed or partially closed. The move is affecting schools in 29 authorities in the east of England, Humber, Yorkshire, and Midlands.

NUT general secretary Christine Blower 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."

Meanwhile, the government is disappointed with the walkout.

A Department for Education spokesman said: "It is disappointing that the NUT and NASUWT are striking over the government's measures to allow heads to pay good teachers more.

"Industrial action will disrupt pupils' education, hugely inconvenience parents and damage the profession's reputation in the eyes of the public at a time when our reforms are driving up standards across the country.

"In a recent poll, 61% of respondents supported linking teachers' pay to performance and 70% either opposed the strikes or believed that teachers should not be allowed to strike at all."