Teachers in ‘climate strike’ warning
TEACHERS have been warned they should not let children walk out of class on “climate strike” ahead of a weekend of planned action.
Thousands of young people are expected to leave lessons this morning in action backed by unions, charities, businesses and politicians.
For the first time students will be joined by workers after the UK Student Climate Network called for “adults, workers, community groups, trade unionists, nurses, teachers, steel workers, car manufacturers, waiters and everyone else in between to join us”.
Staff at galleries, museums and in local government, university lecturers, postal workers and architects are among those expected to join in. The action is also backed by the Fire Brigades Union, while the head of one of Britain’s biggest NHS trusts has said she would support staff taking action.
Workers unable to strike because of strict rules are expected to join the protest on days off or during lunch breaks.
However, the Department for Education echoed teacher unions last night in warning that while they “encourage constructive engagement” it shouldn’t “come at the expense of our children’s education or excessive disruption”.
Teachers were told encouraging students to attend or failing to record absences could put them at risk of legal or disciplinary action. The NASUWT said there was “a duty of care to pupils”, adding: “Teachers cannot condone and encourage such behaviour and may be held responsible should they allow children and young people to do so.”
The climate network says more than 200 events are taking place across the UK, with the main event at Millbank, in Westminster. Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, is to give an address outside Parliament. He praised children going on strike, saying they were “leading the way and I’ll be proud to join them”.
The strikes mark the start of what is set to be a chaotic weekend. Tomorrow Extinction Rebellion plans to blockade the Port of Dover for four hours, mirrored by groups across the Channel.
On Sunday, as the Labour Party conference gets under way in Brighton, Sadiq Khan, the London Mayor, is to close more than 12 miles of roads in central London along with a further 340 streets, which will be turned into “play areas”. The move was last night criticised as a “PR stunt” that will cost £1 million – money that could have been invested in “proper measures to improve air quality”.
Keith Prince, a Conservative transport spokesman and London Assembly member, said: “Once again the Mayor has demonstrated that he is more interested in indulging in shameless virtue-signalling instead of properly getting to grips with the big issues facing London.”
The climate strike is part of a global call for action on climate change with more than 3,400 events planned in 120 countries today, making it the largest action yet.
The TUC last week voted to support it with “workday campaign action”, encouraging workers to take 30 minutes of action during the day. Fire alarms are expected to be set off around the country at 1pm. Dame Jackie Daniel, head of Newcastle-upon-tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said she would support her nurses in taking action. “I think we have to get active about it,” she said.