Steven Longden has been a teacher for 15 years. It's a job he truly adores, passing on his wealth of knowledge to students in the classroom and helping to shape the society of the future.
But, like many of his colleagues, he will be walking out today, July 5, and also on Friday, in an ongoing dispute over fair pay and funding. It will cause disruption across the region, leaving many students without their teachers and possibly forcing some schools to close.
It is not a decision made lightly, but rather reluctantly, keeping in sight the 'bigger picture' and the future of teaching, Steven explains. Teachers in the NEU (National Education Union) will be standing firmly on picket lines in a 'fight to win a fully funded, above-inflation pay rise for all educators.'
