A fantastic day in Coventry and Birmingham
What a fantastic day! I started the day in Coventry with a picket at my Primary school in Coventry. Myself and a number of other members including an NQT, leafleted the parents and had a wonderful response. Every parent took a leaflet and many wished us luck with the campaign. One parent who works for the DWP said 'I'll see you at the rally. I'm striking today too!'. In fact we had no negative comments at all and we were spurred on despite the pouring rain by all the toots from passing motorists.
We held a rally in Coventry City Centre where we were joined by members of the PCS and UCU. The most inspiring speech came from a young teacher who spoke about how her student debt and low pay meant that she might never be able to afford a mortgage. Another young teacher had worked out her pay by the hours she actually works and discovered she earns less than the minimum wage! Then we marched to our coaches to Birmingham for the rally where we joined thousands of teachers and City Council workers who were on their second day of action against single status. We marched through the city centre making up new slogans to chant at passing shoppers.
It was an inspiring day which I know has given many teachers the confidence to fight for, not just better pay, but, also, better working conditions in their schools.
Nicky Downes
Wow!! What an absolutely fantastic day. We had pickets at a number of secondary, primary and special schools from 7.30 this morning. I managed to get round 5 picket lines and everyone was really upbeat about the support they were receiving from drivers and parents. Although it rained heavily they were not downhearted- one school, shortly to become an Academy decided to stay there all day.
At 9.15 many strikers congregated in a local bar for breakfast and dried out a bit before attending a short Coventry Rally. This was organised at short notice to bring together our local unions who were taking part in strike action. UCU and PCS spoke about their campaigns for better pay. Young teachers spoke of their hardship and why they were taking strike action. It was really lively and determined.
At 10.45 we boarded buses to Birmingham for the main event of the day. Chamberlain Square was packed with thousands of strikers from the NUT, PCS, UCU and the Birmingham City Council unions who were on their second day of a 2 day strike over the Single Status pay deal which will see hundreds of workers lose substantial amounts of pay. Teachers were easger to have stickers placards leaflets and arm bands/hats We were all singing along to songs like ‘I’d rather be a picket than a scab!’ led by Banner Theatre group and the demonstration was the most lively I have been on for a while with teachers shouting their demands through the streets of Birmingham. Baljeet Ghale and Roger King spoke at the rally along with other trade union representatives.
We returned home tired but absolutely adamant that the campaign must continue. In fact the question we were being asked by teachers was ‘What happens next?’ Obviously there will be big discussions within the Union over the coming period but one thing that will come from this strike is that many of our members will have grown in confidence and will hopefully be more moved to say a resounding ‘No!’ to Heads when unreasonable demands are made of them. It was absolutely clear from those on the demo and the picket lines and at the rallies is that they are prepared to take more action.
Jane Nellist
We held a rally in Coventry City Centre where we were joined by members of the PCS and UCU. The most inspiring speech came from a young teacher who spoke about how her student debt and low pay meant that she might never be able to afford a mortgage. Another young teacher had worked out her pay by the hours she actually works and discovered she earns less than the minimum wage! Then we marched to our coaches to Birmingham for the rally where we joined thousands of teachers and City Council workers who were on their second day of action against single status. We marched through the city centre making up new slogans to chant at passing shoppers.
It was an inspiring day which I know has given many teachers the confidence to fight for, not just better pay, but, also, better working conditions in their schools.
Nicky Downes
Wow!! What an absolutely fantastic day. We had pickets at a number of secondary, primary and special schools from 7.30 this morning. I managed to get round 5 picket lines and everyone was really upbeat about the support they were receiving from drivers and parents. Although it rained heavily they were not downhearted- one school, shortly to become an Academy decided to stay there all day.
At 9.15 many strikers congregated in a local bar for breakfast and dried out a bit before attending a short Coventry Rally. This was organised at short notice to bring together our local unions who were taking part in strike action. UCU and PCS spoke about their campaigns for better pay. Young teachers spoke of their hardship and why they were taking strike action. It was really lively and determined.
At 10.45 we boarded buses to Birmingham for the main event of the day. Chamberlain Square was packed with thousands of strikers from the NUT, PCS, UCU and the Birmingham City Council unions who were on their second day of a 2 day strike over the Single Status pay deal which will see hundreds of workers lose substantial amounts of pay. Teachers were easger to have stickers placards leaflets and arm bands/hats We were all singing along to songs like ‘I’d rather be a picket than a scab!’ led by Banner Theatre group and the demonstration was the most lively I have been on for a while with teachers shouting their demands through the streets of Birmingham. Baljeet Ghale and Roger King spoke at the rally along with other trade union representatives.
We returned home tired but absolutely adamant that the campaign must continue. In fact the question we were being asked by teachers was ‘What happens next?’ Obviously there will be big discussions within the Union over the coming period but one thing that will come from this strike is that many of our members will have grown in confidence and will hopefully be more moved to say a resounding ‘No!’ to Heads when unreasonable demands are made of them. It was absolutely clear from those on the demo and the picket lines and at the rallies is that they are prepared to take more action.
Jane Nellist
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