Hundreds of teachers and support staff gathered outside Ealing Town Hall to demand better pay and working conditions.

They had come from places like Villiers High School in Southall and the rest of the borough. They held a short rally before marching to Ealing Tube station to join the much larger National Education Union (NEU) rally in Westminster, where thousands of teachers gathered outside Downing Street.

Rallies have also taken place in Bristol, Birmingham and lots of other towns.

---

The lead organiser and speaker of the Ealing rally was Stefan Simms, who is District Secretary of Ealing National Education Union (NEU).

The National Education Union (NEU) represents the majority of teachers and education professionals in the UK.

Other speakers included Oliver New, the Secretary of Ealing Trades Union and Sagar Gurung, representing the striking Abellio bus workers in Unite the Union.

There was also Rosey Stock from the University and College Union at Ealing's University of West London, also on strike today.

---

Oliver New, Secretary of Ealing Trades Union council, said: "We know what you’re facing – because millions of others are facing the same. We know it’s not just about respect or fair pay. We know you’re striking today for education and for children. Just like nurses and other health workers are fighting to keep the NHS alive. Rail workers are fighting for a safe railway with actual staff on stations and trains."

"Ealing TUC consists of reps from various jobs. We meet together; support each other and local campaigns. And when we hear each other’s stories of what’s happening in their industry or their part of the public sector we realise it’s familiar because the same stuff is going on across the UK whether it’s education or the civil service – or the postal service."

"Same story everywhere. The rot is starting at the top and we realise the people at the top do not care about the staff and do not even much care about the service they’re supposed to be in charge of."

"The government claim there’s no money for essential services. It’s not true."

Look at rail - They are not only subsidising failing rail companies who pay shareholders rather than invest, they are forbidding them to negotiate. And they’re compensating those companies for their losses during strikes at a greater cost than it would be to settle the strikes. Using taxpayers’ money to bash rail workers instead of running good services."

"We all know that during the pandemic, the rich got richer – the number of billionaires increased by 20 per cent."

"Hundreds of millions was taken from public health budgets and given to Tory-friendly companies. Now I see huge MOD contracts are going to Tory donors and then Private Health companies are donating millions to the Tories."

"100,000 civil servants are on strike today. A year ago this rally would have been be joined by local HMRC staff – but their Ealing office was closed as part of huge HMRC job cuts – even as billions of taxpayer’s money is lost through tax evasion."

"And more tax loopholes are being planned - to “grow the economy” even though trickle down economics is totally discredited."

"So don’t let them pretend there’s no money. They are taking the money"

"Now the government wants to make effective strikes illegal. Protests are to be made illegal whenever the police so decide."

"Together we will win."

The National Education Union (NEU) said "If we don't strike, we're going to see further degradation of the education system and it's only going to be worse in the long-run."

"It’s worrying we’ve had more education secretaries in the last year than I’ve got glue sticks in my class…they’re gaslighting teachers to expect them to do more with less."

"It's time to Save Our Schools"