Bolton schools shut as teachers walk out in fight over pay

They took part in a national day of action along with other National Education Union members

Today has been branded National Walkout Day, with rail workers, civil servant and university lecturers walking out.

Members of the NEU and representatives from other unions in Bolton, such as Unison and Unite, stood outside of schools in Bolton including St Joseph’s RC High in Horwich, The Sixth Form Bolton, as well as Sharples, Turton and Westhoughton High.

They then travelled to Manchester to join in a large march through the city centre alongside other unions including University College Union, Public Commercial Service Unions and ASLEF, the train drivers union.

Bolton District NEU members at the march at St Peter's Square in Manchester (Image: Newsquest)

Bolton NEU Secretary, Carla Hazelhurst, said: "We've had enough, we've been asking and asking and asking.

Read more: 'Half of Bolton's schools shut' as teachers go on strike over pay

"They're not listening so what else can we do really.

"Funding and conditions are diabolical. Education needs a massive funding influx.

"We've been here since 7am. People are being really supportive, there has been lots of beeps."

Unison member Ryan Quick, aged 32, who lives in Chorley but is originally from Bolton, said: "I work at Unison. From a wider union perspective it's really important we show solidarity together.

"I also have three kids myself who go to school in Bolton, and I support the teachers in wanting better pay and more funding for schools."

Speaking at St Peter’s Square, where the Manchester rally took place, Rob Poole, a teacher in Bolton, said: “I got into teaching because I wanted to make a difference. I’ve always loved working with young people. I’d say it’s a vocation.

“Although we talk about pay a lot, it’s the tip of the iceberg. It’s about so much more than just pay, it’s about our children’s learning conditions, it’s about funding for education, it’s about stress and overworking teaching.

Read more: "For many it's a choice over the heating or feeding kids" - University strike

“That’s why we see a third of teachers leave in the first five years of their career, enough is enough, we can’t go on like this. Today we’re here, fighting for our young people’s future.”

He continued: “In education, we’re at a point where something really needs to happen soon. We’ve got teaching in crumbling buildings, the Government’s failing its own targets to recruit, we’re seeing class sizes growing.

“We’re at a tipping point really.

“This is a last resort, nobody wants to go on strike, we don’t want to be here, we’d much rather be teaching.

“I hope they realise that we’re not doing this just for our pay, we’re doing it for our young people and we’re doing it for their futures.”

Another teacher who was present at the march, who didn’t want to be named, said: “I think it’s just got to a point where teachers do feel undervalued by the current government, and previous governments as well.

“It’s not just about the pay, for me you can see pay and conditions are stopping people from joining the profession.

Read more: Universal Credit workers take part in National Day of Walkouts

“Me and my wife teach, but you can get better paid professions under less stressful conditions.

Members of Unite standing in solidarity with teachers at the picket line outside The Sixth Form Bolton (Image: UGC)

“People say we did nothing during Covid - every colleague I know worked as hard as they could for the children. It’s more than a job, it’s a vocation, it takes over your life.”

He added: “To say teachers don’t care, it’s wrong.

“I didn’t want to strike, but things haven’t changed and we’ve got to have solidarity with other union members.”

Updates from the Teachers' Strikes in Bolton as day of disruption expected

Speaking at The Sixth Form Bolton picket, NEU representative Jennifer Firth said: "We had a strike here on November 30, now we’re following the national line to strike today, as this was the next scheduled one.

"Sixth form teachers were the first teaching group to be balloted.

“I think the important thing is people talk about the effect this is having on students, but what we were offered isn’t funded, so that will come out of the school budget.

Picketers outside St Joseph's RC High in Horwich (Image: Newsquest)

“And budgets are already stretched. Whatever pay rise offered is going to come out of the budget and have a negative effect on students.”

Stefan Siwiak-Jaszek, a teacher at Bolton Sixth Form, said: “We’ve had lots of support, Unison came by and stood with us for a while, as well as the local Unite branch.

“We’ve had solidarity from other unions, with half of the teaching staff from The Sixth Form Bolton striking.

“There are a few teachers from different unions who also balloted to strike, but because they didn’t reach the threshold, they aren’t officially allowed to strike.

“So it’s really more than half of the teachers here who wanted to strike.”

He added: “A few people who were walking past said hello, we really support what you’re doing.”

Teachers are planning more walkouts in the coming weeks and months.