Teachers in march over budget cuts and job losses - NUT strike action "regrettable" says Camden Council spokesman
Published: 31 March 2011
by TOM FOOT
STRIKING teachers brought the fire of Saturday’s mass protest to Camden yesterday (Wednesday) with a march and rally in a row over budget cuts and job losses.
Hundreds of teachers, parents and children marched from Mornington Crescent past Camden Town Hall and into the headquarters of the National Union of Teachers in King’s Cross.
The Camden NUT branch is calling on Camden Council to oppose cuts and ensure all redundant teachers are re-employed in Camden schools.
Secretary Andrew Baisley said talks to avert the strike were held “right up to the wire”, but that the union was offered “no concessions”.
He added: “Parents are overwhelmingly on our side. Injury to one is an injury to all – and unity is our strength.”
The industrial action forced the closure or partial closure of the majority of Camden’s community comprehensives, including South Camden Community School, Parliament Hill and Haverstock secondary schools.
Primrose Hill Primary School – one of many primary schools to shut – was well represented on the march with around 80 per cent of staff joining the protest, according to its teachers.
But staff at voluntary-aided secondary schools William Ellis and Camden School for Girls which have a different management structure, were not part of the protest.
The rally heard speeches from pupils, teachers at the School Improvement Service facing redundancy and national union leaders including the NUT general secretary Christine Blower, who praised the “massively good turnout”.
Acland Burghley pupil, Ruby Hirsch, 18, said she had been inspired by recent marches and strike action, adding: “It really shows that we are many, and they are few.”
A council spokesman called the strike “regrettable”.