Good on our teachers for standing up for their rights

Teachers across the country will begin a one-day strike tomorrow.

This action follows the break-down of negotiations with government over pensions.

They have been asked to pay larger contributions, work for longer and get less in retirement.

Negotiations were ongoing, but the government have now dropped out of the discursive process, preferring to prematurely impose a settlement that teachers are not happy with.

Our teachers in Tower Hamlets are hugely talented and hard-working. They do a tremendous job in our schools, as can be seen with the record GCSE results that our youngsters have achieved. But we cannot take them for granted.

Cutting pensions will lead to fewer ambitious and enthusiastic graduates going into the teaching profession, shortages of staff and a greater reliance on supply teachers from agencies. This can only be detrimental to our children’s education.

I am truly proud of our teachers, and we owe it to them to stand by them in their hour of strife. That is why I am supporting tomorrow’s industrial action.