Industry News
Strike was the right decision, says NUT
Posted on 25th April 2008
The National Union of Teachers (NUT) has said that the decision to strike yesterday (April 24th) was the right move.
A third of the schools in England and Wales were either fully or partially closed as a result of the NUT-led industrial action against pay.
The union says that for three years, teachers' pay increases have not met the level of inflation, which has led to fewer graduates joining the profession.
Acting secretary of the NUT Christine Blower said: "One message that came across loud and clear from our young teacher members is that a combination of declining pay rates and unacceptable workload is driving them out of the profession at an alarming rate."
Further strike action has not been ruled out, although the NUT is happy that the subject of teachers' pay is firmly on the public's agenda.
Schools secretary Ed Balls said he would continue to stand up for parents and teachers and would do his "very best" for all those "who are working so hard delivering first class education for our children", the BBC reported.