This further strike action, which is taking place at colleges across the county, will last from today, January 7 to Thursday, January 9.
The teachers, members of the National Education Union (NEU), are striking after non-academised sixth form staff were left out of the government’s five-and-a-half per cent pay increases in the post-16 schools budget grant.
Peter Symonds teachers picketing (Image: Chris Atkinson) READ MORE: Peter Symonds teachers to strike yet again in the new year
Teachers had formed a picket line outside Peter Symonds this morning.
Speaking to the Chronicle, Graham Childs, the NEU union rep at the college, said: “I think the fact that it is day five of strike action is a sad indictment of the government. I think the government cling to this idea that it is up to individual principals to decide pay, but still can’t explain the fact that they’ve awarded five-and-a-half per cent additional funding to some principals to decide their pay.
“This anomaly that some colleges are being given money to fund a pay rise, and our college isn’t, makes no sense, which shows the government isn’t serious about education and skills.”
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Further strikes are taking place across the county, including at Barton Peveril in Eastleigh, Itchen College in Southampton and 29 other non-academised sixth form colleges.
Phil Clarke, South East Regional Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “The responsibility for these strikes lies with Government, not teachers. No teacher wants to be taking strike action. They want to be in classrooms doing what they do best: teaching. We remain as always willing to resolve this dispute with the Government. However, in the face of yet more silence, our members will continue with their action.
“Government needs to recognise this absurd situation needs to end and that they must quickly address this inexcusable pay divide.”