Teachers in Cardiff said they are exhausted and are having to resort to limiting the amount of time they have the heating on in their homes as they go out on strike over pay and funding. With inflation continuing to increase, teachers have called the Welsh Government's proposed 5% pay increase a pay cut in effect and are demanding a better offer.
As with the rest of Wales, schools across Cardiff were either closed or partially closed on Wednesday, February 1, after the National Education Union announced four days of strike action. A biology teacher at Cardiff High School, Rodney Davies, said he and his wife are having to go without heating in their home from time to time to cut down on costs.
He said: "We have noticed with our budgets you have got to tighten your belts all the time. We have got it (the heating) on for a very limited time during the day, so we are sitting under blankets and using coats." A lack of recruitment, lack of funding and difficulties in retaining staff are all contributing to increased pressure on teachers everywhere.
