Classrooms left empty as teachers strike in mass protest over pensions
Picket lines were drawn across north London as teachers walked out in a mass protest against proposed pension changes today (Wednesday, March 28).
Classrooms were left empty as 60 schools in Camden, 41 in Haringey and 50 in Barnet were closed due to a national strike.
The walkout was organised by teachers’ unions against the government’s proposed changes to pensions, which would raise the retirement age for teachers to 68 and increase contributions by 50 per cent.
Unions say the proposals will make teachers “pay more, work longer and for less”.
Teachers and lecturers marched from Malet Street in Bloomsbury to the Department for Education in Westminster.
You may also want to watch:
Andrew Baisley, Camden National Union of Teachers (NUT) secretary, said: “There is sufficient anger and strength of feeling among teachers in Camden to move to strike action.
“These aren’t industrial workers, it takes a lot for teachers to go this far.”
Most Read
- 1 Teenager's artwork reimagines grandfather's class photo
- 2 Highgate's assassin: the student hostel where a murder was planned
- 3 Haringey Council launches investigation into land deal with rapper
- 4 5 great places in north London to get away from the summer crowds
- 5 Modern murder mysteries set in the heart of Hampstead
- 6 Nancy Jirira wins Fortune Green by-election, holding on to Lib Dem council seat
- 7 £5,000 of crack cocaine and heroin found in Hampstead home
- 8 Crouch End Festival Chorus: Alexandra Palace Theatre
- 9 'Cash cows': Leaseholders fight for clarity and better value over 'huge bills'
- 10 'Like the Fleet's resurfaced': Flash flooding hits Hampstead and Highgate
Speeches were made by socialist writer and author Owen Jones, union members and Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen.
NUT general secretary Christine Blower said: “Teachers cannot be expected to do anything other than defend the right to a pension which they have paid into in good faith.”
