‘So much local support’: Teachers striking over pay force closure of 47 Hackney schools

Teachers striking at BSix College. Photograph: Hackney North Labour / Twitter

Thousands of Hackney schoolchildren have the day off today as strike action by teachers forced the closure of 47 schools.

The National Education Union (NEU) staged the strike over calls for a pay rise.

Union leaders say the average five per cent pay offer is seven per cent behind inflation and is “unsustainable” for teachers struggling with the cost of living.

A few Hackney schools remain partially open for specific age groups, vulnerable pupils and children whose parents are critical workers.

Haggerston School was planning to remain open for Year 13 pupils in the second year of sixth form, and until lunchtime for children in Year 11 doing GCSEs this summer.

Jamie Duff from Hackney NEU said: “Teachers have had enough of low pay and a lack of funding.”

He added: “We do not want to strike but feel that the government is refusing to listen. This is the only way we can get our voices heard. We have suffered a real-terms pay cut of an estimated 23 per cent since 2010.

“Inflation is running at well over 10 per cent. We are demanding a fully funded and reasonable pay rise. Pay us a fair wage and stop undermining the profession.”

He said it is harder for schools to recruit and keep staff and called for the government to invest in teachers.

Hackney Mayor Philip Glanville and Deputy Mayor Anntoinette Bramble visited picket lines in London Fields to show their backing for striking teachers.

Glanville said there was “so much support for our teachers from parents, residents, children, public sector workers and passersby”.

Meanwhile, library staff across Hackney are striking over the council’s plans for some redundancies as part of a shake-up of the service.

Unite and Unison members are on strike today and are due to walk out again on Friday.

Unison said library staff are concerned about the potential loss of 20 frontline staff and some Sunday working, with fears that it could “create a very stressful environment”.

The council said some staff have been wanting to take voluntary redundancy for some time. It also says remaining staff will get higher paid jobs and more training, and will only work one Sunday in seven.

Unison paused its strikes last month for further discussions.