** Please sign in and register your support for the teachers strike**

[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

It's fantastic to see so much support here
if this thread reaches 400 posts I'll crack open the champagne and start singing Billy Bragg songs -

Solidarity, I'm tempted to add another 48 posts myself just for the pleasure of hearing Billy Bragg songs.

in case anyone's interested/on facebook, you might like to C&P this status update I've just seen:

"Remember when teachers, nurses, doctors and lollipop ladies crashed the stock market, wiped out banks, took billions in bonuses and paid no tax? No, me neither. Please copy and paste to your status for 24 hours to show your support for the strikes against the government"

OOh I love Billy Bragg

Many on Mn will not be amazed LMAO

Dh otoh would weep.

Ha ha - maybe I'll link some BB later.

Posting that on FB now SHJ - thanks!

Signing in to register my support

Sat opposite a teacher sporting an NUT sticker on tube this afternoon. We grinned at each other as he spotted my 'Stop the Cuts' PCS sticker (am not PCS member but there are PCS members at my workplace)

I've just cancelled my Sky TV subscription because I basically can't afford such luxuries and bought a freeview box instead.

I'm off to watch some free TV and enjoy that in some small way it reduces the profit of a private company so the shareholders will have to sack more employees to maintain their profits and the former employees will end up on benefits that the reducing number of taxpayer pays, but the public service isn't there to get them in jobs and keep the country running, let alone catch, supervise or convict the increasing number of criminals who rob other people to get money, commit arson and other crimes through dissatisfaction, or treat the victims in hospitals or educate their kids so they don't follow the same route.

See you at the finish line for the race to the bottom, everyone. You get the government you vote for, and what you deserve.

oh yesssssssssssssssss

Thanks for this thread, Solidarity (great name); I've just read it all the way through - I'm a former teacher, and it does my old heart good to see teachers (and other workers) taking action, and all the support on this thread!

:)

thebestisyettocome 'been the victim of endless weeks, months of teachers striking in the eighties'. I've pointed this out on at least one thread on this topic before - the number of days when teachers were on strike in the 80s was in single figures, and I mean the entire decade.

Me too :-)

:)

I have 3 boys of school age and I fully support the striking teachers - and the other public sector workers. It's so unfair to make these people pay for the crisis caused by the bankers and their rich mates. I just read that for every £1 the government spends on teachers pensions it spends £2.50 subsidising the pensions of the top 1% of earners. So why are teachers first in line to cough up when cash is tight?

:)

PCS member and rep here :)

How fantastic to see a positive thread about the strikes.

The misinformation and lies out there about teachers and public sector "gold plated" pensions is so bloody frustrating.

You know what the average public sector pension is? Around £4k.

Gold plated MY ARSE.

By the way, has anyone mentioned that MPs are retaining their final salary pensions? They seem to be keeping that one pretty quiet.

Yep-am striking here today. Support given in bucketfuls.

:)

To those who think teachers go out on a whim, I am desperately hoping that the action we have taken today and the fairly high level of public support a) gets the government to make the overdue apprasial of the scheme and be open and honest about the financial impact, and b) allows for a fair deal to be thrashed out in the next few weeks. What I want more than anything else (other than fair pension obv!) is to not have to continue this into the autumn, which will actually have a detrimental effect on my pupils' education that today's action hasn't.

luckylou - you are right. I grew up in the eighties and the schools were never closed for days or weeks at a time.

Funnily enough, my education and the education of my peers (state school all the way, all graduates...) was not too damaged by the reckless behaviour of striking teachers.

:)

Don't start me on MPs flippinada ...I rant into my cornflakes most days over these self important parasites. Grrrrrrrr

My pleasure luckylou

Here's a from me. Members of our union joined the teachers marching through Oxford today during our lunch break. There was a great turn out and good support from bystanders.

I was really surprised that only 1 teacher in DCs school (primary) was on strike today - I hope they appreciate my efforts on their behalf!