Thousands of Greater Manchester teachers have walked out for the first day of strike action. Members of the National Education Union (NEU) say it's not just the issue of pay that's on the line - but the quality of children's education amidst a recruitment and retention 'crisis'.
Yet for some teachers in the region, pay is a big problem. Single mum Lucy Hoyle qualified as a full-time teacher in 2017 and had been looking forward to a more stable income.
But the 33-year-old from Trafford has had to take on a second job tutoring to help provide for her daughter, the Mirror reports. And she's not the only teacher in the region who is having to take on multiple jobs to make ends meet.
"The idea teachers start work at 8am and finish at 3pm is just wrong," said Lucy. "If I only worked those hours and actually took my weekends and holiday off, the children would not be getting the education they need."
Year 1 teacher Lucy says resources have dropped in recent years, with less support available for vulnerable children. She also admits having paid for classroom supplies, such as pens and books, from her own finances.
"Teachers don't come into it for the money", added Lucy. "100% it's about caring and supporting children get a good education.
"But what is it telling the future generations about society, that caring for people isn't what's rewarded in society? That it pays more to be a ruthless business person than helping people?"
At a rally in St Peter's Square where hundreds of teachers came out to call for change, the Manchester Evening News met Aliyah. The south Manchester-based teacher described splitting her time between that profession and her second job as a waitress.
“I’ve always wanted to be a teacher," she said. "I can’t afford my bills.
“I finish school on Friday and work as a waitress after school until midnight. I work all day Saturday and Sunday morning. I only have Sunday evening to prep.”
The NEU estimates 85% of schools were affected by today's strike. It says the industrial action follows more than a decade of real-terms pay cuts, which have had an impact on teacher recruitment and retention.
Teachers have been offered a 5% pay increase, but the NEU is calling for a fully-funded, above-inflation pay rise. Education secretary Gillian Keegan told BBC Breakfast today: "What is not realistic is for us to be looking at inflation or inflation-busting pay rises.
"We cannot risk fuelling inflation with inflation-busting pay rises. We have to look after everybody in the economy."
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