Teacher on Strike Expresses Frustration, Citing Desire to ‘Bang Heads Together’

Dani Hosford, a teacher, stated, “None of us want to be out here.” She was observed on the picket line, moving her feet and waving a banner to maintain warmth. Ms. Hosford further commented, “Staff are loyal but if they get offers at other colleges which pay more, they will go as we’ve all got bills to pay.” Ms. Hosford is affiliated with the National Education Union (NEU), which initiated industrial action due to the exclusion of sixth form colleges from the 5.5% pay increase awarded to most teachers in schools and academies this year. The government has stated that colleges bear the responsibility for determining staff pay levels. According to Ms. Hosford, the union brought up the concern during the summer that certain college staff members would not receive the pay award. She expressed her frustration, stating, “The cogs are turning so slowly in government, this is the future of our profession and I just want to bang some heads together and say sort this out, it’s so important.” Barton Peveril College in Eastleigh serves five thousand students from various parts of south Hampshire. While some lessons have been cancelled, teachers participating in the picket line acknowledged that they had advised students on activities to undertake at home in preparation for their mock exams. Hampshire presents an unusual situation where the majority of post-16 education occurs within colleges rather than schools. Barton Peveril College in Eastleigh, Peter Symonds College in Winchester, and Itchen College in Southampton are all experiencing the effects of the strike action. George Morrison, an A-level Maths and Further Maths teacher, also joined the picket line. He commented, “The maths on this doesn’t add up, I want to continue working here but I know there are lots of maths’ teachers’ (jobs) which would pay more.” Mr. Morrison expressed concern regarding his students losing classroom instruction time but believed it was necessary to contend for the “bigger cause.” Teachers are scheduled to strike again on December 4.