Teachers strike against job cuts

TEACHERS AT Haggerston School in Hackney, east London, have taken three days of strike action over the past two weeks against job cuts. Six teachers, including heads of year and SEN teachers face redundancy under a new management structure.

Last June there was £1.3 million left in the school’s budget but now there is not enough to continue without cuts. Teachers, parents and pupils are asking where this money has gone.

With 100% turnout and 36 out of 37 NUT members voting in favour of discontinuous strike action the first strike took place on Thursday 9 July with two days the following week. Over 40 people attended the picket lines on each day including supporters from the Save Lewisham Bridge School campaign and union branches across London.

The teachers plan to take further action in September if necessary, a vital step to make sure this campaign is successful. Attacks on education are increasing, both in their number and intensity, across Hackney. It is vital that we defend the right to a high-quality free education where it is attacked.

Suzanne Beishon