Teachers in East Yorkshire take strike action
They're today joining the UK wide dispute over pay by the National Education Union
Around two-hundred thousand teachers across the country including many in East Yorkshire are beginning three days of strike action.
Members of the National Education Union are walking out.
It's part of a row over pay and school funding.
The dispute seems no closer to being resolved with both the union and Education Secretary strongly defending their positions.
We spoke to Steve Scott who's a teacher in Beverley and also the NEU rep for East Yorkshire.
Teachers have felt like they have no choice but to continue their action
He told us:
"Later last week the Government wrote to the union asking us to suspend action in the promise of talks but in the letter they made no reference to school funding, they made no reference to a serious offer."
"Teachers have felt like they have no choice but to continue their action until the Government are willing to get round the table."
"Having spoken to teachers in my school and those across the county, it's clear that teachers see the need to keep striking. "
"They understand why they're striking until the Government listen"
We just can't get staff in
We were on the picket line at Longcroft School in Beverley this morning.
One striker told us: "It's not only about the pay it's about it being full funded because at the moment the 5 per cent (current offer) has to come from the existing school budget but the existing school budget is really stretched."
"That being funded centrally is really important to us."
Another said "One of the biggest things in teaching at the moment is recruitment and retention - we just can't get staff in."
"There's not enough money in the system - it's got to be equitable to make that a living and also do the work at home, people are less and lees wanting to do that."
The NEU will once again cause disruption for children and families
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan has responded to the strikes.
In a statement on Monday evening she said: "As a government, we have made a serious offer to the leaders of the National Education Union and Royal College of Nursing: pause this week's strikes, get round the table and talk about pay, conditions and reforms.
"It is hugely disappointing the NEU has thus far refused this serious offer and has not joined the Royal College of Nursing in calling off strikes.
"Instead of sitting round a table discussing pay, the NEU will once again cause disruption for children and families."
"Children deserve to be in school, and further strike action is simply unforgivable, especially after everything children have been through because of the pandemic."