More than 200,000 teachers to strike in biggest shutdown for three decades

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View online February 01, 2023 1 / More than 200,000 teachers to strike in biggest shutdown for three decades Parts of the country will effectively grind to a halt on "Walkout Wednesday" as around 200,000 teachers take part in their largest strike for three decades, closing classrooms in 85 per cent of schools. In total, half a million teachers, university staff, train drivers, Border Force workers, civil servants and security guards are predicted to take part in a coordinated day of industrial action.   NHS patients and nursery children also risk being disproportionately affected as staff, many of them women, are forced to stay home to look after their own school-age pupils, experts have warned.   Most trains in England will not run, queues are predicted at airports and 600 military personnel are being drafted in to support public services.   Downing Street conceded that the level of strike action would make it "very difficult for the public trying to go about their daily lives". 2 / Nasa 'expecting new discoveries' from green comet Object will be close enough to see – and could offer Nasa important information about the solar system 3 / Girl, 4, dies after being mauled by dog in garden Young child declared dead at scene in 'absolutely tragic incident', Thames Valley Police say 4 / Chelsea complete Enzo Fernandez signing to break British transfer record Chelsea met Benfica's £106m release clause shortly before the 11pm transfer deadline in what was a frantic end to the January window 5 / Warning food inflation not yet peaked as shop prices reach record high 'Simply no way' for those on the breadline to keep up with rocketing costs, poverty campaigners warn The Big Question Is your child's school closed during the teacher strike? Full list of walkouts in your area Tens of thousands of schools across England and Wales will be forced to partially close or shut their doors entirely as teachers walk out from tomorrow. The National Education Union (NEU) has announced seven days of strikes in February and March, with Wednesday's walkout expected to affect over 23,000 schools. Teachers will join train drivers, civil servants, university lecturers, bus drivers and security guards from seven trade unions as they gather on picket lines on Wednesday for the biggest day of industrial action in over a decade. The strike follows failed talks on Monday afternoon between education secretary Gillian Keegan and the general secretaries of the unions, which it had been hoped would resolve the pay dispute. Ms Keegan said it was "hugely disappointing" that the NEU would proceed with the "unnecessary disruption", while joint union chiefs Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney accused the cabinet minister of having "squandered" the opportunity to avoid the strike. For the full story click here > Enjoying this newsletter? Unlock unlimited, ad-free reading on the website and in The Independent app when you subscribe – plus, benefit from our welcome offer when you join today. Watch/ Activists to compensate Madame Tussauds over King waxwork cake stunt NUMBER OF THE DAY £250 – A "rare and prestigious" chandelier picked up by an English painter for £250 in the 1960s could be sold for millions. Read more here  QUOTE OF THE DAY "It is just perpetual hell. It is just utter disbelief." – Paul Ansell, the partner of missing Nicola Bulley, speaking from the family home in Inskip, Lancashire, said he spent all of Sunday searching for the mother-of-two.   Read more here  We noticed that you might not be registered By registering, you will enjoy limited access to Independent Premium articles, commenting, and virtual events with our leading journalists REGISTER FOR FREE Other stories you might like Firefighters 'photographed dead bodies of women in car accidents and shared on WhatsApp' Mystery of mother who vanished during a work conference call Queen 'suggested Prince Andrew take on charity work' to clear his name after scandal Articles available exclusively to subscribers Bel Trew - What we're missing in the tragedy of Ukrainian war volunteers Andrew Bagshaw and Christopher Parry Other newsletters you might like The Race Report Fortnightly, 7am (UK time) Written by Nadine White Sign up Inside Politics Weekdays, 8am (UK time) Written by Matt Mathers Sign up If you can spare a minute we'd love your feedback on our newsletters. Join the conversation or follow us Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's Morning Headlines newsletter. Add us to your safe list of senders.   If you do not want to receive The Independent's Morning Headlines newsletter, please unsubscribe.   If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe here. This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 14-18 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1AH. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our privacy notice and cookie policy.