Message in a battle
Sting: I’m behind nurses & teachers on pay
STING has backed teachers and nurses in their pay dispute with the Government.
The 71-year-old ex-primary teacher spoke on a visit to his native Tyneside.
On Thursday he played at Newcastle’s Live Theatre with fellow Geordies Alan Shearer, 52, and Jimmy Nail, 69, watching.
The Mirror met him before a fundraiser to mark the 50th anniversary of the theatre.
He told us: “Teaching is one of the most important jobs in our society in my view.
“As well as nurses and many of those professions, they need to be paid well and it is a disgrace that they are not. I very much support them in their dispute.”
Sting was brought up in Wallsend. After working as a bus conductor, labourer and tax officer, he went to the Northern Counties College of Education – now Northumbria University – from 1971 to 1974 and qualified as a teacher.
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He taught at St Paul’s First School in Cramlington, Northumberland, for two years before global success with The Police at 27 with Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers.
He told the Mirror: “The Live Theatre is the voice of the North East. So it is lovely to come home. My two sisters, my brother and Jimmy Nail are all here.”
On stage, he had paid tribute to the teachers who influenced him.
They included his piano teacher, a maths teacher who gave him 2% in a test but then carefully explained algebra, and his secondary school English teacher, who instilled a love of literature.
Philippa Briggs, 61, a PA from Newcastle, joined the applause for teachers and nurses when Sting talked about their “terrible pay”.
She said of his speech: “It was his life’s journey, and how his roots influenced so many of his songs.”
Beth Farhat, regional secretary of the National Education Union, said: “It is great to get a public endorsement from a local hero like Sting. He recognises the importance of the profession.” There is more strike action planned for April 27, and May 2.
Jack McNamara, Live Theatre artistic director, paid tribute to Sting, Jimmy Nail and actor Robson Green for coming to the fundraiser.
He said: “It is a brilliant boost. They have given their time for free.”
live.org.uk
They need to be paid well and it is a disgrace that they are not
STING ON TEACHERS WHO ARE STRIKING OVER WAGES