WIRRAL teachers have taken to the picket line today, urging the Government to hear their pleas for better pay.
They are among thousands in England and Wales out on strike after the National Education Union (NEU) announced seven days of industrial action over the next two months.
Ferdushi Mohshi during teachers strike rally at The Lauries in Birkenhead today (Image: Craig Manning / Newsquest)
The walkouts, which could see more than 100,000 teachers take action in a dispute over pay, came on the same day that university lecturers, train drivers, civil servants, bus drivers and security guards are going on strike.
Some parents will have had to take leave from work, or arrange other childcare, as a result of planned school closures across England and Wales.
Teachers Jack Rose, Anne Mooney and Emma Oliver outside St Werburghs RC Primary in Birkenhead (Image: Craig Manning)
The NEU estimates that around 85% of schools in England and Wales are fully or partially closed today.
More than 150 teachers from across the borough gathered at the Lauries Centre in Birkenhead for a rally, calling for better pay and conditions. A larger demonstration is due to take place in Liverpool this afternoon.
Teachers at The Lauries in Birkenhead (Image: Craig Manning / Newsquest)
Among the speakers was Ian Harris (pictured, below), secretary for Wirral National Education Union (NEU), who told the Globe: “It’s a vital day for us. The future of schools is on the line.
“Funding is at a record low and our schools are struggling to keep up, pay their staff and keep school buildings in a good state of repair.
“Our message to Government is simple; pay teachers a fully-funded, above inflation pay rise and support our schools and teachers, so we can teach our children to the best of our ability."
Teachers at The Lauries in Birkenhead (Image: Craig Manning / Newsquest)
Ferdushi Mohshi, a teacher at Woodlands Primary in Birkenhead for the last eight years, gave an impassioned speech during the Lauries Rally, urging the Government to listen.
She told the Globe afterwards:"We don't want to strike, this is a last resort.
"I live and work in the same community and it's an utter privilege to do so. I see, daily, what the children coming through our doors need and what they lack.
"We just keep talking and talking and asking the Government to listen, but it's not happening.
"If the people we need to listen actually listened to us, we wouldn't need to go on strike.
"You can't play with children's futures and that's what's happening here; the Government is gambling with education and they can't do that.
Teachers Jack Rose, Ann Mooney and Emma Oliver at St Werburghs RC Primary in Birkenhead are calling for "better pay to keep teachers in the profession".
Ann Mooney said: "We would like a fully-funded pay increase; haven't had any sort of decent payrise for about 10 years now, so we've come out and formed a picket line for the first time since I've been teaching, which is many, many years.
"We've had so much support today, it's been amazing. The Parents have been so supportive.
"We want to recruit teachers, but we want there to be a decent enough salary to be able to retain those teachers, because many are leaving within the first five years as salaries have diminished."
Colleague Jack Rose added: "I'm still relatively new to teaching, but it's a case of when you get into the job role, there's a real culture shock of how much is expected.
"Then you see how little appreciated for extra hard work you do, putting in the hours outside of what people see. It isn't reflected in the pay we get."
