NEU demonstration. Photo: Orlando Hill
Orlando Hill reports from the NEU national strike day demonstration
Three hundred thousand NEU teachers went on strike on Wednesday demanding that the Secretary for Education, Gillian Keegan, do her job, publish the School Teacher Review Body (STRB) report and sit down with the unions to discuss funding for schools. Thousands of them marched through the streets of London carrying district banners from across London. Some schools brought their own individual banners.
The march started in the Jubilee Gardens and ended in a rally in Parliament Square. John McDonnell, Labour MP, marched in solidarity with the teachers holding the NEU banner. Some teachers brought their children. Sixth form students joined the march in solidarity with their teachers.
At Westminster Bridge the march managed to stop the traffic with joyful chants and jumping up and down.
Planned school trips received special dispensation from strike. Groups of students visiting Parliament asked for NEU flags and joined in shouting support for teachers.
At the Department for Education teachers demanded to know where Gillian Keegan was, and why she refused to negotiate with the unions.
Daniel Kebede, the newly-elected NEU general secretary, opened the rally stating how proud he was of the NEU members. Paul Whiteman and Geoff Barton from the two headteachers’ unions (NAHT and ASCL respectively) spoke of their determination in joining the NEU in the autumn term. The NASUWT sent their solidarity. There were also speakers from the Labour Party (Kim Johnson, Richard Burgon, and John McDonell), Green Party (Vix Lowthian) and the SNP (Carol Monaghan). All the speakers said that their place is on the picket lines and in support of workers who are forced to strike.
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Orlando Hill
Orlando was born in Brazil and was involved in the successful struggle for democracy in the late 1970s and 80s in that country. He teaches A level Economics. He is a member of the NEU, Counterfire and Stop the War.