Teachers, train drivers and university lecturers are among those expected to join a march through Nottingham as employees from across the city go out on strike. The workers will be walking out on Wednesday (February 1) to demand a higher pay deal from the Government.
The regional branch of the National Education Union (NEU) has previously said that "virtually every school" in Nottinghamshire will be affected in some way by strike action. The union said that pickets will be held at schools across the county on Wednesday, including at the Bluecoat Trent Academy and the Ellis Guilford School.
Striking teachers will then join workers from across Nottingham for a march through the city, starting from the Broad Marsh Bus Station at 11am and progressing to the Albert Hall, where an indoor rally will be held at 11.30am. Other striking workers on the day will include members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), who plan to hold pickets in the morning at locations including Loxley House, Nottingham City Council's HQ.
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East Midlands Railway has confirmed that due to strike action by members of ASLEF and the RMT, there will be no services from the company operating on Wednesday and rail replacement bus services will not be provided. The University of Nottingham has confirmed that it will also be affected by members of the University and College Union (UCU) walking out on Wednesday.
The Albert Hall rally will feature contributions from figures including RMT general secretary Mick Lynch. In terms of schools, the nationwide strike on February 1 will be followed by another strike affecting Nottinghamshire on March 1.
There will then be two further nationwide strikes on March 15 and March 16. Nick Raine, senior regional officer for the National Education Union in the East Midlands, said: "The Government cannot expect strikes to be averted unless it brings forward concrete proposals for increasing pay. Experienced teachers have seen a 23% real terms pay cut since 2010. Given the current cost-of-living crisis and rising inflation, this is clearly an unsustainable situation for our members. The Government appears to have nothing to say to them."
Peter McConnochie, Nottinghamshire County Council's service director for education, skills and inclusion, said: "Headteachers in Nottinghamshire will be taking all steps to minimise the impact of upcoming strike action. Nottinghamshire maintained schools will follow the advice provided by the Department for Education.
"The county council will, as always, provide supplementary support and advice to our headteachers and governing bodies. The decision to open, restrict attendance, or close a maintained school is for the headteacher who will follow the schools' closure guidance and inform parents in advance of any full or partial closure of their school. The decision for academies rests with the academy trust."
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