Today schools throughout Buckinghamshire were closed due to a strike by teachers. Apparently the teachers are unhappy at receiving a 2.45% pay increase. I am puzzled as to why they have gone on strike as there are lots of workers who would be grateful to receive a pay rise of any level let alone a whopping 2.45%.

So who will benefit from the strike? Well, the children and teachers will have a day off and that’s about it. I certainly never benefited as the roads were as busy as ever this morning so any hope of an easy journey to work without the school traffic did not materialise.

No doubt children all over the County will be sitting at home playing computer games and generally lazing around at home rather than lazing around at school. Their education will suffer as a result of the strike. Do the teachers care more about the children’s education or their own pay rises? By taking strike action it looks as if they’re putting their wallets first.

Over the years many strikes have been reported on the news and from what I can see taking strike action very rarely success in forcing employers to capitulate and all that results is a long and bitter battle which ends with both parties digging in.

In the past few years there appears to have been an increase in strikes with the postmen, firemen, tube drivers (several times) and now the teachers adding their name to the list. We appear to be slowly slipping back into a culture of industrial unrest not seen since the 70’s.

Do you think the teachers are justified in taking strike action or should they think themselves lucky to be offered the 2.45%?