‘One pay cheque away from homelessness’: Striking workers tell their stories
Up to half a million workers went on strike on Wednesday – with large numbers of state schools in England forced to close their doors.
More than half (54%) were either fully closed or restricting access to pupils as teachers took industrial action, the Department for Education suggested.
The walkouts, which also involved civil servants, rail workers, bus drivers, border force workers and university staff, were the biggest in a decade.
The action is centred around demands for pay rises matching inflation, which ministers say they can’t afford.
Civil servant Ellie Clarke, 31, who works at the Cabinet Office, said she was “one pay cheque away from homelessness” after a decade of real-terms cuts to her wages.
Ms Clarke said she is “terrified every day” as food costs and bills spiral in the cost of living crisis.
“We are just living in poverty. There is absolutely no chance we could go to the theatre or even just have some dinner with friends,” she commented.
Tom Herzmark says it is ’embarrassing’ to talk about pay
Primary school teacher Clodagh Glaisyer-Sidibe was on strike in Lewisham with a placard designed to “turn heads”.
It read: “I could make more £s on this pole.”
She explained: “As a slightly older woman, I didn’t feel I’d be making a lot of money as a pole dancer.
“So it’s showing just how little we’re getting.”
Tom Herzmark, a temporary lecturer at Brunel University, said it was “actually embarrassing to talk about my pay”.
“I had six different part-time contracts last year but my income was still below the tax-free allowance,” he told Sky News.
The tax-free threshold is £12,570. Tom lives with a friend to save on rent but says his earnings still aren’t enough to live on.
“I’ve had to make difficult decisions about when I spend my money. I don’t go on holidays. I don’t go to the pub. I don’t buy coffees, because it’s all too expensive,” he said.
“I’m paying to do the job with the hope that I will get a full-time position.”
Hannah and Joe both teach at a primary school in Cardiff
Read more:
Who was striking on Wednesday and who is set to walk out later this month?
Strikes take toll on economy as widespread disruption forces many to stay at home
In Walthamstow, northeast London, seven-year-old Daisy Halford joined her father on the picket line.
Holding a placard saying “This is our future” she said schools needed more money.
Her father is a secondary school teacher. Daisy said: “Our schools aren’t getting enough money and the government is taking money from our schools.
“I would like to get more money for our schools.”
Peter Jeffrey, 48, who teaches at a primary school in Byker, Newcastle Upon Tyne, said: “I’ve not had a real pay increase for 10 years. I’m effectively earning less than I was a decade ago.
“Any future pay rise is to come out of school budgets, meaning I have to think whether anything I get will impact colleagues like teaching assistants or dinner ladies, as well as things such as school trips, pencils and books.
“That puts us in a very difficult situation.”
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir Starmer to sack Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq over allegations she lived in properties linked to allies of her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, the deposed prime minister of Bangladesh.
It comes after the current Bangladeshi leader, Muhammad Yunus, said London properties used by Ms Siddiq should be investigated.
He told the Sunday Times the properties should be handed back to his government if they were acquired through “plain robbery”.
Tory leader Ms Badenoch said: “It’s time for Keir Starmer to sack Tulip Siddiq.
“He appointed his personal friend as anti-corruption minister and she is accused herself of corruption.
“Now the government of Bangladesh is raising serious concerns about her links to the regime of Sheikh Hasina.”
Ms Siddiq insists she has “done nothing wrong”.
Her aunt was ousted from office in August following an uprising against her 20-year leadership and fled to India.
Ms Siddiq is also named with her aunt in Bangladesh court documents about meetings with the Russian government.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir to sack the minister
Read more from Sky News:
Ten Reform councillors quit in protest
Liz Truss sends cease and desist letter to Starmer
As economic secretary to the Treasury, Ms Siddiq is responsible for policy on both the City and tackling corruption.
She referred herself to the prime minister’s ethics watchdog on Monday following the reports about the properties.
On the same day, the prime minister said: “Tulip Siddiq has acted entirely properly by referring herself to the independent adviser, as she’s now done, and that’s why we brought into being the new code.
“It’s to allow ministers to ask the adviser to establish the facts, and yes, I’ve got confidence in her, and that’s the process that will now be happening.”
Police in Aberdeen have widened the search area for two sisters who disappeared four days ago in the city.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32, were last seen on CCTV on Market Street after leaving their home on Tuesday at around 2.12am.
The sisters – who are part of a set of triplets and originally from Hungary – crossed the Victoria Bridge to the Torry area and turned right on to a footpath next to the River Dee.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti were last seen on CCTV in Market Street. Pic: Police Scotland/PA
They headed in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club but officers said there is no evidence to suggest the missing women left the immediate area.
Specialist search teams, police dogs and a marine unit have been trying to trace the pair.
The sisters crossed Victoria Bridge before walking along a footpath next to the River Dee
The pair were heading in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club on the south side of the River Dee
Further searches are being carried out towards the Port of Aberdeen’s South Harbour and Duthie Park.
Police Scotland said it is liaising with authorities in Hungary to support the relatives of the two sisters.
Chief Inspector Darren Bruce said: “Eliza and Henrietta’s family are understandably extremely worried about them and we are working tirelessly to find them.
“We are seriously concerned about them and have significant resources dedicated to the inquiry.”
The sisters, from Aberdeen city centre, are described as slim with long brown hair.
Henrietta Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Eliza Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Officers have requested businesses in and around the South Esplanade and Menzies Road area to review their CCTV footage for the early morning of Tuesday 7 January.
Police added they are keen to hear from anyone with dashcam footage from that time.
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