** 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

[thebestisyettocome]

Are people really so naive that they don't look back at the lessons history teaches us? Some of the strikers today must be history teachers ffs.

[JoleneJoleneJoleneJoleeene]

How much worse would have the miner's situation had been if they hadn't striked?

[flippinada]

I think you may have to accept that people support the strike and feel strongly about it thebest. They want to make a stand. It's clear you don't agree with the action, fair enough.

[thebestisyettocome]

I think they should've taken a different stance. They should've told the Government that they would agree to go on the proviso of a promise of investment in industry in every affected area. Instead, both sides took an implacable and hostile postion neither could back down from and the Miners got screwed over.

No doubt lots of mining families would disagree but history has told us their approach failed.

I'm off now. Apologies for spoiling the thread, especially to Solidarity. We are on the same side, just arguing it from different perspectives...

[flippinada]

I can see we are thebest.

I do see where you're coming from too and can understand your POV.

Personally I believe we are in for a whole lot worse than what's happening now and I'm really worried about what the future holds.

But anyway - still want to show my support.

[Farhana]

i support

[Solidarity]

Thebest; it's ok honestly -

Here let's end the night happy.

[Grumpla]

Supportive from me!

[TINKERBELLE33]

[thebestisyettocome]

[scottishmummy]

i support the teachers.

[Angubaba]

Hello, am a teacher and mummy who was on strike today (/Struck?) and it is heartwarming to have your support. I get that teachers are lucky to have a pension in place but the way Con-Dems have approached renegotiation of terms is so derogatory/bullying that we have to strike (unpaid) to be 'heard'. Went on the march, played in the garden with son in the afternoon. Blissful break in what is usually a sixty-hour working week. Thanks again for your support x

[exoticfruits]

[ChantingAsISpeak]

I am a teacher, I don't have a 'gold plated pension', I pay for my pension (at least £150000 over a 40 year career) - I support the strike :)

[NaomiCole]

Thank you girls for all the support, it's really appriciated. (It's nearly midnight but I'm still working, tomorrow won't teach itself!)

[NaomiCole]

Would help if I could spell I'm sure! appreciated

[debivamp]

totally have my support.

[debivamp]

totally have my support

[angst]

I support all public sector workers in this struggle. There seems to be a lot of jealousy out there re the so called gold plated pensions. Perhaps there should not be a race to the bottom but a fight to make all pensions fit for purpose in the private sector also.

It is only very recently that public sector salaries have outstripped those in the private sector which means there are many years of catch up. The "reliable" pension was what made the low wages palatable.

[pinklizzie]

CHANTING - genuine question - is your pension worth £150K.

My pension that I have struggled to get to a value of £100K - private pension that I have paid into will provide around £8 a year when I retire.

What will your pension provide per year on retirement?

[pinklizzie]

Also - what did all the teachers with children do with their children when they strike? How picks up their childcare?

It was not a major but I have started a new job so had to take some unpaid time off and catch cabs to and from work to minimise my time away. My DH had to be late for a meeting - so we've both been in the dog box over the strikes... I still support the strikes but really hope for selfish reason there are not more.

[backtoblighty]

fully support :-)

[muminlondon]

Looked like successful day to me - Francis Maude shown up on the Today as 'floundering', intelligent articulate women union members (their unions not affiliated to a political party) refusing to be patronised. I've learned sone interesting things - the ideological motive for reducing pensions (e.g. make public services attractive for sell-off). Well done all you teachers. :)

[Inertia]

Bit late to this, but would like to offer my support to those who were on strike .

[Solidarity]

Never too late.