Teachers strike: Bolton teachers walk out for the second time

Members of the National Education Union went on strike for the second time in the fight with the Government over better pay and funding for schools.

The NEU say the Government needs to 'come up with something serious' that they can put to members.

The Government, however, have hit back and say strikes  ‘cause disruption for children and families’.

Schools across Bolton were closed or partially closed with teachers stood outside a number of schools to raise awareness of their campaign.

Picketers at Turton School in Bolton (Image: Newsquest)

NEU Rep for Turton School, Jeanette Bimpson, said: "We've had lots of good support, people beeping, cars, bus drivers.

"The students have been very curious about the dispute."

Read more: Schools across Bolton shut or partially shut as teachers walk out in pay dispute

A mother pushing a pram then walked past and said to the teachers: "It's very deserved, you work so hard."

Jeanette continued: "Parents have come and supported us, telling us they value our hard work.

"No one wants to go on strike, you're worried about the students not in school today - some are missing out on free school meals, they're still available but the students have to travel in to get them.

Bolton NEU Bolton District NEU members at the march at St Peter's Square in Manchester earlier this month (Image: Newsquest)

"You are worried, but when you get the support from the parents it helps.

"I think they understand we're doing it for the children, for the students."

She added: "The pay is secondary, it's the recruitment and retention.

Read more: Updates: Teachers strike over pay and conditions around Bolton

"Students are being taught specialist subjects like maths and science by non specialist teachers."

Speaking earlier at the Turton School picket line, teacher Clive Searle said: "The retention is low. We've now had 12 years of systematic cuts, that's what every kid suffers from every single day.

"Our Year 11s have seen real term cuts in education. Every day in school is worse than the one before.

"People talk about students missing days because of the strikes, but the government don't seem to care, they gave them days off for the jubilee, the Queen's funeral and for the coronation.

"Systematic day in day out cuts destroy our kids chances."

The NEU has called on the Education Secretary to drop preconditions to talks and instead make a “serious” offer on pay to avert national walkouts from taking place across England and Wales on March 15 and March 16.

Joint General Secretary of the NEU, Kevin Courtney, said: "I think the Government is fundamentally mistaken in thinking that industrial relations are solved by telling people you can’t go on strike if you want to talk to us.

Read more: Bolton schools to shut as teachers go on strike over pay

“We are willing to meet at any time, any place and we would really hope that she does meet with us after these regional strikes and comes up with something serious that is an offer that we can put to members.

“That’s what we would want in an ideal world, to find a solution that means we don’t go ahead with those strikes in March.”

Picketers outside St Joseph's RC High in Horwich earlier in February (Image: Newsquest)

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said: “As a government, we have made a serious offer to the leaders of the National Education Union and Royal College of Nursing: pause this week’s strikes, get round the table and talk about pay, conditions and reforms.

“It is hugely disappointing the NEU has thus far refused this serious offer and has not joined the Royal College of Nursing in calling off strikes.

“Instead of sitting round a table discussing pay, the NEU will once again cause disruption for children and families.

“Children deserve to be in school, and further strike action is simply unforgivable, especially after everything children have been through because of the pandemic.”