Britain in 'mini-lockdown' chaos on 'Walkout Wednesday' due to teacher and ... trends now

Britain in 'mini-lockdown' chaos on 'Walkout Wednesday' due to teacher and ... trends now
Britain in 'mini-lockdown' chaos on 'Walkout Wednesday' due to teacher and ... trends now

Britain in 'mini-lockdown' chaos on 'Walkout Wednesday' due to teacher and ... trends now

Britain is back in a mini-lockdown today as 500,000 public sector workers including teachers went on strike on 'Walkout Wednesday'. 

More than seven million children - many of whom had their education badly disrupted during the pandemic - face missing lessons today on the biggest day of strikes for over a decade.

An estimated 85 per cent of English and Welsh state schools – up to 23,000 in all – are expected to close their doors to some or all of their pupils, who will be forced to stay at home with their striking teachers not setting them work.

On 'Walkout Wednesday', the striking teachers will join 100,000 civil servants, 70,000 university staff and thousands of train drivers and border force staff in staging industrial action.

A general strike in all but name, it is expected to cost the economy £200million and amount to a 'mini-lockdown', with 500,000 workers in total walking off the job and millions of people forced to work from home. 

Children of teachers and supporters were urged to make 'strike boxes' containing food and drink to sustain the picket lines. Other pupils were asked to make placards, with one teacher's child shown by the National Education Union declaring: 'Tax the rich'.

One teacher had their children make placards for the picket line including one urging the Government to 'tax the rich'

One teacher had their children make placards for the picket line including one urging the Government to 'tax the rich'

Paddington Station in London deserted on another day of strike action across the national rail network

Paddington Station in London deserted on another day of strike action across the national rail network

Parents were in limbo because the National Education Union urged teachers to refuse to say whether they would turn up for work.

Downing Street led criticism of the tactic while Tory MPs accused union leaders of 'spoiling the lives' of working people, many of whom will be forced to take unpaid leave to look after their children.

There are also mounting concerns teachers who refuse to say whether they intend to strike could still get paid if schools are forced to pre-emptively close.

In a letter sent to schools by Education Secretary Gillian Keegan and seen by The Telegraph, it was made explicitly clear that teachers involved in strike action are not entitled to be paid.

However, the waters become muddied when teachers are not forced to declare their intention to strike, and there are concerns staff could simply claim that they are working and therefore receive their pay. 

As a result, teachers are encouraged to turn up to school if they are not participating in strike action. They're likely to be asked to cover for those on strike, however they cannot be forced to do so. 

In other developments:

600 troops will be drafted in today to cover for striking public sector workers, including on airport passport desks; No 10 admitted the strike action would be 'very difficult' for the public; Voters are split over the strikes, with 40 per cent supporting them and 38 per cent opposed, an Ipsos poll found; The walkouts will leave Britain in a 'mini-lockdown' and cost the economy £94million directly, with hospitality taking a further £100million hit, the Centre for Economics and Business Research said; Unions representing 1.4million council and school workers, including refuse collectors, librarians, teaching assistants, care workers and cleaners, yesterday submitted a claim for above-inflation rises.

The National Education Union also shared one image of a schoolgirl holding a 'my teacher is worth more' placard with food for teachers going on strike

The National Education Union also shared one image of a schoolgirl holding a 'my teacher is worth more' placard with food for teachers going on strike

Parents were in limbo because the National Education Union urged teachers to refuse to say whether they would turn up for work

Parents were in limbo because the National Education Union urged teachers to refuse to say whether they would turn up for work

On ¿Walkout Wednesday¿, the striking teachers will join 100,000 civil servants, 70,000 university staff and thousands of train drivers in staging industrial action

On 'Walkout Wednesday', the striking teachers will join 100,000 civil servants, 70,000 university staff and thousands of train drivers in staging industrial action

An estimated 85 per cent of English and Welsh state schools ¿ up to 20,000 in all ¿ are expected to close their doors to some or all their pupils

An estimated 85 per cent of English and Welsh state schools – up to 20,000 in all – are expected to close their doors to some or all their pupils

Protests are due to be held across the country against the Government's controversial plans for a new law on minimum service levels during strikes. 

The TUC says up to 500,000 workers will walk out, making it the biggest day of industrial action since 2011, when more than two million employees staged strikes in a row over pensions. Ministers are said to be furious with the NEU's attempt to disrupt contingency plans to maintain education for children whose schooling has already been hit by the pandemic.

And 600 military personnel will be drafted in to cover roles across the board in the public sector, The Times reports. They'll primarily be covering border duties, but will be spread wherever they're most needed to mitigate the impact of the strike action.

Authorities are now examining French laws that require teachers to give 48 hours of notice if they plan to walk out. 

There has been a sharp rise in the number of schools forced to close by the strikes after about 40,000 extra teachers joined the NEU since industrial action was announced a fortnight ago.

Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the National Education Union (NEU), said ministers should be concerned because the vast majority are joining the union 'because they want to be part of the action'.

He said: 'That's a very big conscious decision to make, to join us at this moment. If I was the Government, I'd be worried about that.'

It is required by law to provide schools with the number of members it is calling on to take action in each workplace ¿ but it does not have to provide names

It is required by law to provide schools with the number of members it is calling on to take action in each workplace – but it does not have to provide names

The PM¿s spokesman said: ¿It is disappointing that school leaders don¿t have the clarity they need to plan appropriately'

The PM's spokesman said: 'It is disappointing that school leaders don't have the clarity they need to plan appropriately'

It is required by law to provide schools with the number of members it is calling on to take action in each workplace – but it does not have to provide names.

It means many headteachers have been left in limbo about staff numbers, with some forced to close as a precaution.

And Jonathan Broadbery, director of policy at the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA), warned the strike could have 'quite a serious knock-on effect' for nurseries as staff may struggle to find childcare. 

The PM's spokesman said: 'It is disappointing that school leaders don't have the clarity they need to plan

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