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[Solidarity]

I know there are threads flying about all over the place re; the strike, but this is purely to register support - it would be great if we could keep it going until midnight on Thursday ( 30th June )

you don't have to say anything - just smile, like this

My mum and sister are both teachers my mum a learning mentor now so not on strike today. They go out of their way to make sure their pupils are well taught. My sister buys books, prizes ,stickers etc out of her own money because she loves her job and cares for her kids she brings her work home and is brillant and commited to her job. I will be giving my support to her today.

good luck! our school is open today :( my boys have thrown a sickie.

..and thank you teachers, for helping my children to try and get a decent education and to inspire them to be the best that they can be.

I'm on ML, back to work in Sept, so am striking in sympathy.

:-) Please can someone up in that ivory tower start listening to us?

Complete support.....

Yes - I know teachers who spend their own money on resources. They do it because they are fully committed to providing the best education they can, and because they care.
And You'll never see politicians cutting their pensions or other benefits - because we're not really - 'all in it together' - it's more - 'do as I say not as I do'

I worked in a tough inner city school in my last job and usually spent about £50 a month out of my pay on resources.

Radio 4's Today programme have been saying that the Hutton report proves that the cost of teachers' pensions is actually DECREASING and that it is pure lies from the Tories to say otherwise. They are now backtracking and saying that public sector pensions should be lower for reasons of 'fairness'. Fairness? The MPs' pensions are bigger. Is that Fair? Cameron is a multi millionaire - is that FAIR? It is all bollocks and Tory shite.

they have my support

from a Scottish colleague

Yes and No.

Yes - to stand up for what they want and beleive in.

No - to the fact those not in the public sector have had to make massive changes due to a drop in income and like me cannot afford even a £1 to put in a pension pot at present.

Govie seems to have forgotten that the majority of those evil teachers who are inconveniencing parents by their reckless striking are parents themselves

Got mine.

Noting my support :)

Not here, lucky to have a good job, be thankful you have a pension at all!

No one sticks up for the private sector and many of us have seen our pensions plumet. I havent a pension. Hubby and I will never retire - fact.

DS1 is in school today - I am working to contribute my taxes and keep my employees in employment.

Life is tough and life evolves, accept the things you cannot change and get on with it! Fair - nothing is fair, life isnt fair get over it.

If labour were still in government they would continue to spend spend spend on the public sector - pop pop pop - Greece! Its not all down to bankers - the damage was done ages ago. The sector needs millionaires and business, the more the better. Lets build the country back up.

Perhaps you all could boycott Tescos, Vodaphone etc seeing that they owe billions in tax. But no one will do that - perhaps you could contact them and ask them to contribute cos every penny counts!

Teachers are great, work hard and its a tough job. But not many of us are having an easy ride either.

carocaro so sad that you are unable to put into a pension for your future, so you will understand why the public sector workers feel so furious about having it promised, then taken away?

They may have made no other privisions due to their pension being part of their professional package (too many P's there). It's not about who can and who cannot afford a pension. Fact is they would have had to make other choices had this pension not been in place, but to promise it and take it away is wrong, particularly for the longer in service!!

It's theft. Robert Maxwell did this years ago and it was classed as a criminal act!!

Totally with the teachers. It just shows how much respect this governmnt has for the teaching profession to cut their pensions without proper consultation and then, when they strike, think that they can replace them with unqualified parents. Shocking

Bacon - yes - let's all be thankful we're not starving and living on the streets - indeed we should be grateful that politicians let us live at all.

Yes, I know many teachers (myself included) who, with a good honours degree, could have chosen much better paid jobs but chose teaching because they wanted to make a difference. I know many teachers who pay from their own pocket for resources because they are committed. Yet you wouldn't see David Cameron taking money from his pocket to help ease the deficit, would you? They deserve the pension they were promised.

:)