Industry News
NUT releases message for striking teachers
Posted on 23rd April 2008
The National Union of Teachers (NUT) has released a message to be read out by those joining in the industrial action tomorrow (April 24th).
Acting general secretary of the NUT Christine Blower praised the 'passion and vigour' of former general secretary Steve Sinnott in his leadership of the Fair Pay for Teachers campaign, before his death at the beginning of April.
Ms Blower said that Mr Sinnott had often spoken to teachers of his own experiences when he provided for his family on a teacher's salary.
"He believed in this campaign, in his head and in his heart, because he didn't want to see teachers and their families have their living standards cut," Ms Blower said in the message.
She added that pay cuts and a decline in teachers' pay were having a damaging effect on recruiting students to postgraduate teacher training courses.
Ms Blower said that Mr Sinnott believed that the NUT campaigns were equally about addressing the interests of children.
It is believed that the number of schools now affected by the planned strike stands at 7,500.