Business leaders’ anger at teachers’ strike

Apr 25 2008 by Richard Down, Liverpool Daily Post

MERSEYSIDE’S business community last night branded yesterday’s widespread strike action by teachers as “appalling” after it made a significant impact on the region’s economy.

Many firms saw staff staying off work as parents were forced to stay at home to look after children whose schools were closed.

Chief executive of Liverpool Chamber of Com-merce Jack Stopforth, said: “With more than 90% of Liverpool schools affected by the teacher’s strike today, we are anticipating a significant knock-on effect for local businesses, due to employees with children being forced to take time off work if they are unable to find alternative child care arrangements.”

Disruption was greater than anticipated as teachers picketed schools and colleges across Merseyside yesterday.

In Liverpool, the NUT claimed just six primary and one second-ary school fully opened, out of a total of 194 schools. In Sefton, more than double the number of schools closed than was expected.

Every college in Merseyside had picket lines, according to the University and College Union.

Around the country, 400,000 teachers, lecturers, civil and public servants went on strike, disrupting thousands of schools, Jobcentres and Whitehall depart-ments as teachers protesting over a proposed below-inflation pay award of 2.45% in September, with 2.35% the next two years.

The impact was described as “fantastic” by Liverpool’s secretary of the National Union of Teachers, Julie Lyon-Taylor. She told about 500 colleagues gathered outside St George’s Hall she was proud of them for standing together and said further strikes were possible.

But business leaders had a rather different tale to tell.

Mr Stopforth added: “Here at the Chamber, we have experienc-ed cancellations at events today due to the strike.

“The ripple effects on business and the wider community are often overlooked. It is important to recognise the strike will have a wider economic impact due to increased employee absence.”

Frank McKenna, of lobby group Downtown Liverpool in Business, attacked the industrial action which he described as “unreason-able”, adding: “I’m absolutely appalled they’ve taken this option.

“Most people try to accommo-date people with children, as the importance of spending time with family is well known. But it becomes more difficult with this going on. It leaves a bitter taste in the mouth.

“Given where the economy is at the moment, if the teaching profession thinks it’s going to get much sympathy, they’re sadly mistaken. You would have thought they would have taken a more considered approach.

“Since 1997, if you look at teachers’ pay, then they’ve had quite generous settlements.

“If strike action remains a vehicle for teaching unions, it will not be helpful to the business community and this is at a difficult time economically.”

The unions, however, gathered more support than anticipated as they marched through Liverpool, chanting and singing from Castle Street past Municipal Buildings to St George’s plateau.

Guest speaker Croxteth-born Billy Heyes, general secretary of the Communication Workers Union, paid tribute to NUT gen-eral secretary Steve Sinnott, who was 56 when he died on April 5.

After the rally, organisers had to turn 200 people away from a strategy meeting at the Lion Hotel to avoid overcrowding.

TO SEE video footage of yester-day’s teachers’ march, log on to www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk

OPINION: PAGE 10

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