This Wednesday teachers on the Isle of Wight who are members of the National Education Union (NEU) will be taking their first day of strike action, in a series of four planned strike days.
A demonstration will be held in St Thomas’s Square between 10.30am and 1pm, with speeches at 11am.
Supporters are invited to take banners, placards and whistles along, with families and children welcome.
More strike action
The other days of strike action will be:
- Thursday 2nd March 2023 in regions: London, South East, South West
- Wednesday 15th March 2023
- Thursday 16th March 2023
Shreeve: The Government has known about staff shortages for years
Commenting on the ballot results from 16th January, Peter Shreeve, Assistant District Secretary of the National Education Union, said,
“It’s with a heavy heart that members have chosen to act. They have chosen to do so, because the government doesn’t appear willing to act or genuinely consult.
“Government has known about staff shortages and its impact on workload for years. In recent months the IFS, NFER and even Ofsted’s annual report have highlighted the need for more teachers to fill vacancies and achieve their own targets.
“However, closing this gap will not be a quick fix, but it’s not too late for positive discussion. The NEU has made their views known for months, but the government only offered their first meeting on 9th January. Far too late. I understand the next meeting with Education Secretary Gillian Keegan is planned for next Wednesday. We hope for genuine negotiation and progress.
“We are keen to have a resolution. One that moves towards a ‘minimum service’. For children, parents and education staff, this means not just the expectation, but the reality of a qualified teacher and subject specialist in every classroom. This is not possible when recruitment targets have been missed over so many years.
“We want qualified and experienced classroom assistants supporting, allowing teachers to teach too. Let government provide the means to fulfil this expectation of a ‘minimum service’, so that children and young people can start to make real educational progress in their life.”
Image: © NEU
