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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

Have our support. Both kids (11 and 15) at different schools off today. Took them to St Pauls Cathedral, so they got a bit of education and bribed them with a Pret A manger Lunch.
Appalled that Gove seems to think that school is childcare. Would like to see him teach 30 yr 6's all day every day until he is 66.

:)

Footpad, did you know that according to Danny Alexander, we don't pay tax?

Wish someone had told my employers...

Adding my support

I'm actually amazed at the level of support considering the onslaught we are getting from the press, mps etc.

:)

They have my support!

except our teacher wasn't on strike... I expect I will "say different" when I have gone back to work, and can someone put that in proper english for me... brain tired is.. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Solidarity Sisters and Brothers out there....

Am not a teacher and DS's teacher wasn't on strike (much to DS's dismay ).

I am right behind the teachers, think they do a fabulous job. My son has thrived in the care of his lovely teacher this year. Can't put a price on that at all.

How many of you (especially the teachers) have fedback on the SEN green paper?

More support here.

SEN Green paper. Today is the last day

Can I just correct one of my posts slightly...obviously not all of ny peers went to university but a good proportion of my year group at the state high school I attended did. Just wanted to clarify because otherwise the statement sounds slightly ridiculous.

I think the teachers should just get back to their work and do what they are employed to do. We are all suffering in the current economic climate one way or another either through pay cuts, redundancies, pension changes or another way. But at the end of the day they have a job and they should do it to the best of their capabilities. My two sons have been off all day and again have an inset day tomorrow so that is two full days worth of education that they have missed out on!!!! It is absolutely not necessary.

luckylou. It only takes a single day off for a whole week/month whatever to be disrupted. I remember whole chunks of my education being disrupted. Perhaps other people had teachers who belonged to different Unions.

I am a sole voice of dissent on this thread and so I know I will get flamed but as I have said I support the teachers not the method. I dislike striking as a form of protest. So does DH who recalls his father constantly being on strike and being blacklisted as a result. It acheived little, apart from having the affect of plunging the family into poverty for long periods of time.

As far as I can tell the teaching Unions could've boxed a lot cleverer with the Government. Instead of keeping their powder dry and doing what their enemy least expected them to do, they decided to strike. This plays right into the Government's hands. Where do the teachers go now? The Government haven't caved into their demands. They'll dig their heels in even further. So now the teachers (and others) have lost the support and sympathy of the Tories, the Lib dems and even Labour. Why? Because of the macho, swaggering politics of the Unions who have led them down this blind alley.

And as for Billy Bragg. I remember Red Wedge vividly. It was a great source of comfort when it felt like everybody else had forgotton us. Only didn't BB try to distance himself from all of that mullarkey once he bought his clifftop mansion in Devon

Completely support the strike by public sector including teachers - you all deserve your pensions, my thanks and respect for your dedication and hard work, thank you.

I support the strikes

Thank you Knackerednancy :)

thebestisyettocome - since when did the unions ever have the support of the Tories...? As for the turncoat lib dems...and the current Labour party leadership are a bunch of mealy mouthed Blairites anyway.

And as I mentioned above, none of them are prepared to sacrifice their final salary pensions.

Supported here 100%

CPenders - The trouble is, we're not all suffering. Sales of luxury goods are hitting record levels. The very richest in the country, including the bankers who got us into this mess, have never had it so good. It's funny how, when people criticise bankers bonuses, we're told that we have to pay these people huge sums to get the very best. Yet when it comes to teachers and other public sector workers, who do jobs that make a huge impact on the quality of live in the UK, the same argument doesn't seem to apply - it's OK to attack their pay and conditions.

Link here about MP's pensions, for those who are interested.

I'm not saying the Unions ever had the support of the Tories. I am seriously not that thick. I am saying that teachers now will struggle to count on the support of the Tory Government now they've taken this action.

:)
university lecturer supporting the strike. Although no actual work going on today anyway....but I'm with you all in spirit :)

I'm sure you aren't thick thebest, but I'm not sure teachers have ever had the support of the Tories.

I speak as thegood friend/ child/step -child and grand-child of teachers so I know a lot about what they go through..albeit second hand of course.

Another pupil in the 80s here, do not remember being affected by strike action.