LOOKED at from the perspective of the National Union of Teachers (NUT), the national strike – the first in 21 years – will no doubt be considered a success.
The walk-out by thousands of teachers closed or partially closed up to 8,000 schools in England and Wales, forcing working parents to stay at home or find childcare. In Liverpool, every secondary school except one was closed.
Meanwhile, thousands of school children will have no doubt enjoyed an unexpected extra day off from the classroom.
But, as far as everyone else is concerned, what exactly has this strike achieved?
The NUT is demanding a 4.1% pay rise, rather than the 2.45% on offer, with leaders describing the one-day strike as the opening move in what will be a long- term campaign over pay.
However, quite apart from the disruption in schools, the effects on the wider economy could also be serious, with working parents forced to stay off work to look after children as schools lie empty.
It is estimated that businesses could lose at least £68m in lost working hours, plus the additional disruption of having to fill in for absent staff.
The teachers’ strike is just part of a wider manifestation of discontent with the Government’s pay policy, with teachers being joined by lecturers, civil and public servants, disrupting thousands of schools, colleges, Jobcentres and Whitehall departments.
This is despite government figures showing that wages of public sector workers have risen faster than those of people in the private sector.
It is important that both the Government and all those who are protesting about its plans to reform public sector pay get to grips with a situation which will only do children’s education, and the wider economy, a great deal of harm if it is not settled soon.
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