Teacher strikes: Here is where there will be rallies in East Sussex tomorrow

The National Education Union (NEU) said ‘thousands’ of its members in East Sussex and Brighton will strike on Wednesday, February 1. This is alongside ‘hundreds of thousands’ more nationwide.

The strike will see schools closing across the area as teachers take action over a fully funded pay rise, the NEU added.

Rallies will take place at 11am at The Level in Brighton, Hyde Gardens in Eastbourne, and Hastings Pier.

A spokesperson from the union, who also spoke about the cost of living crisis, said schools have been unable to recruit and retain teachers due to pay.

They added: “The strike is also over a fully funded rise as teachers in the NEU reject the government position of schools finding the money for pay - even below inflation pay awards - out of current budgets, which cuts education provision by forcing schools to cut elsewhere.”

Secondary school teacher and NEU national vice president Phil Clarke said: “Every year we present comprehensive evidence to the government about how cutting our pay in real terms means our schools can’t recruit and retain enough teachers. Parents know this when they hear that their children are being taught by non-specialists in important subjects or their teachers change frequently as staff move out of the profession.”

Mr Clarke added that members have been ‘left no choice but to strike’ and that its ballot result showed how determined members are ‘to stand up for their pupils and themselves’.

Residents have been invited to join the rallies.

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