Teachers across East on strike again - as dispute over pay and investment continues
Members of the National Education Union walked out on Wednesday as well
Teachers across Suffolk are going on strike for a second time this week - in a dispute with Government over staff pay and investment
Members of the National Education Union walked out on Wednesday as well, over 6 months on from when they took first took industrial action.
"I can earn more working at a check-out in a supermarket"
Annie Askham is a teacher in the East:
"We have got massive recruitment problems which is the number one reason we are striking. If we cannot recruitment, children won't be educated.
"The last thing parents want are supply staff coming in, who aren't qualified properly. Temporary staff are not good for their education.
"I earn less now in real terms less now than I did ten years ago. They try and claim workload is being reduced but the reality is, it isn't.
"The pressure is causing huge amounts of stress on staff now. So many teachers are on annual leave, because they are so stressed.
"Teachers are not coming into the profession because the pay, hours and the workload just don't add up. It's not just getting those teachers in, but it's keeping them as well.
"I can earn more working at a check-out in a supermarket."
"Students are going to be the ones that suffer"
"Schools have seen no budget increase with the cost of living, so, hey are already struggling to cover the costs of bills or air conditioning you have to have in computer room - by law.
"We are finding that schools are having to say 'there can't be any spending', this term.
"I think they the Government are going to drag their heels, as long as possible. The other unions are going to hopefully get their ballot through and participate.
"We are just hoping that we can get enough of us and put the pressure on in the Autumn term. But with it currently just being us- I think they will drag their heels until then.
"Having a few days off at the end of term - things are winding now, and exams are done - I don't think there's much disruption from that.
"It needs to be made clear that students are going to be the ones that suffer - they are not going to get a proper education, if we can't recruit staff."
What has the Government said on this?
The Department for Education says strike action is causing "real damage" to pupils' learning and that the NEU's pay requests are unaffordable.