Teachers strike in the UK: Examining the fair treatment of teachers in the US
Teacher strikes have occurred throughout history as educators rally for better pay, improved working conditions, and increased funding for education.
Voicing their concerns about mistreatment, teachers in the UK have taken to striking, disrupting the school system to push for change.
“Teachers should be given what they need. They need the right amount of pay because they progress our learning and you want them to progress as well while also continuing teaching us. They’re well-being is important to us,” said Raghav Pottabathini (‘25).
The teachers, led by the National Education Union (NEU), have striked for days on end, affecting an unprecedented amount of schools.
“I think teacher strikes or any unions in general are one of the powers that they have to go against or their voice to be heard. When everyone works together to try and say a message, they should send the message to the authority figure,” said AP Computer Science teacher Bryan Thai.
Seeking better pay and treatment, the union rejected an offer of an additional £1,000 for this school year, deeming it too little. Following the rejection, strikes resumed to grow support for the cause.
“Teacher strikes have definitely been helpful in recent years. Teacher wages have gone significantly up. Before, if you look online, teachers’ wages used to be 60,000 or 70,000 which is far below what they deserve, especially in this state. But now, they’re close to 100,000, which is far better,” said Sumanth Janjanam (‘24).
Teacher pay and treatment have been hotbed issues in the United States as well, suggesting a worrying trend for the Anglosphere’s educators. Despite being among the highest paying districts in California, there is more work for even the PUSD to do.
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