Thousands hit by teachers strike as unions warn more could follow

The initially gloomy outlook soon made for unseasonably warm sunshine and the approving horns of passing motorists.

About 30 union members gathered outside the college on the corner of Old Shoreham Road and Dyke Road before heading down to the main rally at the Pavilion Gardens.

Throughout the day protesting teachers repeated the same three mantras: regret for resorting to industrial action, passion for their profession and contempt for the policies of Education Secretary Michael Gove.

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Philip Anthony, the National Union of Teachers (NUT) representative at Bhasvic, said: “There’s a sense that although many are reluctant to resort to strike action we’ve reached the point where there’s no alternative because Michael Gove isn’t listening.

“Quite a lot of people are beeping their horns and giving as the thumbs up, which is quite encouraging.”

Assistant secretary for NUT Brighton and Hove Ron Gordon, who was also outside Bhasvic, said: “We don’t want to be celebratory about closing schools, but today shows the strength of feeling.

“A lot of parents have shown understanding with the predicament that teachers have been put in.

“Some people have linked schools closures with fines for absences. That’s a good point, but it’s misdirected. These fines are imposed by the Government – another ill-thought-out policy teachers have to cope with.”

Bhasvic teacher Gallit Shaltiel added: “Education is not a business and these policies will make teachers focus on pay.

“We want to do the best for all students, not just the ones in our class. Teaching isn’t about being competitive.”

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After an hour outside the college the group joined up with hundreds more at the Pavilion Gardens, awash with union banners, piercing whistles and megaphones.

Teachers young and old were joined by children, relatives and well-wishers with an estimated 2,000 joining the main march shortly after 11am.

Roads were closed as the marchers were strung out across the city centre, before culminating in rallying speeches at the Brighton Centre.

Snaking down North Street, the protesters headed up the Old Steine, up Marlborough Place towards York Place, and up Trafalgar Street.

Stretching out the best part of a mile, marchers proceeded down Queens Road and West Street, ending at about 12pm.

Will Power, of Varndean College, said: “There’s a sense of solidarity.

People are standing up for what they believe in.

“I hope it will make a difference but I’m not sure Michael Gove cares. My main concern is people will be scared away from the profession.

“I think Gove is making state schools so difficult to work in so he can push forward his academies plan.”

While several city councillors took to the streets in solidarity with the protest others were not so sympathetic.

Councillor Patrick Warner, of Eastbourne Borough Council, tweeted: “Disappointed that my enthusiastic hardworking son did not have sufficient numbers of teachers at Bishop Bell to educate him today.

“I strongly believe that our children should not be used as pawns in disagreement with the Government.

“Teachers don’t always have an easy job but they are still protected from many of the harsh realities of the real world.”

Others were equally unimpressed after being caught up in closed roads.

Carl Druce, a delivery driver stuck in queues, said: “I’m not going to lie, it’s quite annoying. It’s put us a couple of hours behind.

“Teachers get paid more than a lot of people and get plenty of time off, so I’m not really sure what they’re protesting about.”

James Hawkins, of Brighton who also got stuck around Trafalgar Street, said: “It’s a bit inconvenient.

I don’t think they really have much of a gripe with all the pay and holidays they get. They get lots of help in class with assistants, I don’t really understand it.”

With hundreds of marchers reaching a standstill on West Street some went into a 400-capacity conference room at the Brighton Centre but others dispersed so the road could reopen.

Rowena Gerrett, of Dorothy Stringer, said: “I’m really cross because there were all these people stood in the road and the police advised the NUT to get us to disperse.

"Lots of people peacefully did what they were asked and now there’re lots of empty seats in the room.”

Inside protesters were addressed by Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas and NUT secretary for Lewes, Eastbourne and Wealden Phil Clarke.

Mr Clarke said: “This is about more than pay, pensions and retirement ages.

“This is about teachers standing up for ourselves as professionals.

This is a defence of state education.

“We don’t want to strike again.

We want the Government to see sense. But we’re prepared to if they won’t.”

He called for a coordinated strike among workers to fight against Government attacks on the public sector.

MPCaroline Lucas told the audience the Greens were the only party supporting the action.

She said: “There’s a real sense of common cause to say to Government that they have to abandon the ideology that says private is good and public is bad.

“We want public services back and we will fight for them.

“Each crisis is being used by the Government as an opportunity to roll back the state.

“Gove doesn’t trust you to do your job. Until he does his job better he should stop worrying so much about how you’re doing yours.”

Also speaking was Fire Brigades Union representative Steve Liszka from Preston Circus, who said firefighters were facing the same attacks on conditions as teachers.

He said: “In 20 years time we don’t want to realise we have failed our children. This is about the future of the education system.”

Some of the loudest applause was reserved for Noah Rutter, of Blatchington Mill.

He said: “I didn’t become a teacher for the money or pension, but because it was something I wanted to be proud of.

“It upsets and angers me when Government and press show so little understanding and call us selfish and greedy.

“If we were greedy we would have become investment bankers.

“We need to stop Gove bulldozing education and trying to turn it into a private enterprise.”