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Spotted UK

Local News Reports

Merseyside comes to a halt as thousands walk out on strike

BySpotted UK

Feb 1, 2023

Today is a huge day of strike action across Merseyside as thousands of people from many different sectors take to picket lines across the region.

Huge numbers of teachers from hundreds of schools across Merseyside will be striking today as part of a row over pay and conditions. The major action comes after members of the National Education Union in England and Wales voted overwhelmingly to strike.

In Liverpool, less than 10% of schools will be fully open today because of the walk-outs. We have gathered a list of all the schools in the region we know to be closing here.

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Explaining the decision to take action across the country, Dr Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney, joint General Secretaries of the NEU, said: "We have continually raised our concerns with successive education secretaries about teacher and support staff pay and its funding in schools and colleges, but instead of seeking to resolve the issue they have sat on their hands. It is disappointing that the Government prefers to talk about yet more draconian anti-strike legislation, rather than work with us to address the causes of strike action."

But its not just teachers who will be striking today. Britain is facing its biggest day of co-ordinated industrial action for decades with a host of other sectors across the economy walking out today – with many joining picket lines across Merseyside.

Train drivers will be taking part in the latest round of action in their long-running dispute, with roughly 12,500 members of the ASLEF union and a few hundred RMT members walking out. Merseyrail will not be impacted and is expecting to operate a full service today.

Liverpool's universities will also be affected by strike action from the University and College Union, which has announced that with more than 70,000 staff at 150 universities represented by the University and College Union walking out today.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: "University vice-chancellors have been given multiple opportunities to use the sector’s vast wealth to resolve these disputes. Instead, they have forced staff back to the picket line and brought disruption to students."

Another union holding strikes on this co-ordinated day of action is the Public and Commercial Services Union that represents civil servants and government departments. This will have an impact on driving test centres, museums, ports and airports. The action will affect staff at National Museums Liverpool.

Those walking out in the PCS dispute include staff at the Department for Transport, the Department for Education, the Department for Work and Pensions, the Department of Health and Social Care and the Home Office.

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