TEACHERS in Halton will step up to the picket line tomorrow to fight in solidarity with others over industry pay cuts as many are forced to used food banks and take on second jobs.

Members of the NEU have declared they will strike outside three schools across the areas of Widnes and Runcorn in a bid to increase wages and address the ‘huge funding crisis in education’.

Special Educational Needs and Disability Coordinator, Deborah Gwynn said: “We will have picket lines at three schools across Halton; OBA and The Heath in Runcorn and OCA in Widnes.

“We do not take the decision to strike lightly and we would rather be in the classroom educating our students, but the Government offer of an unfunded pay rise of 5% is below inflation and in a real terms pay cut.

"During the pandemic schools remained like the NHS, but the Government have now refused us a payrise in line with inflation. 

"Support staff are using food banks and teachers are taking on second jobs to pay the bills.

Deborah, who works in secondary education, highlighted how 'crucial' it was that teachers receive a funded pay rise by the government.

She stated how the 5% increase that was awarded was unfunded and money from existing school budgets had to stretch to pay staff an increase.

Anger has built over more than a decade, as in the last 13 years the union has stated that teachers pay has ‘decreased in real terms by 23%’.

“One in four teachers leave the profession within three years of qualifying and one in three leave within five years of qualifying. 

“The Government is failing to hit its own recruitment targets for teacher training. 

“This all means that students are being taught by non-specialists in subjects such as Maths and Science or they have a succession of supply teachers,” Deborah added.

The union member went on to state how the funding crisis seen across the entire industry has in turn lead to larger class sizes.

Teachers work loads have soared and one-to-one teaching is now a strain.

This has also lead to failures to meet the requirements of students with special educational needs.

After standing on the picket lines in the morning, the teachers from Halton will then travel to Liverpool to join a wider march and rally with members of UCU and PCS unions.

"The Government are not listening to us and they are not valuing education.  

"The number of millionaires in this country has increased since the pandemic and the Government spent billions on contracts for PPE which was never used during the pandemic. 

"The NEU is saying that the money is there - we are one of the richest countries in the world but the Governemnt chooses not to fund state education or the NHS properly," Deborah added.