BBC Sounds Music Radio Podcasts

Hello, more strikes. This time in schools. So schools in Scotland have closed this week. Primary schools were mostly closed on Tuesday.

Secondary schools went on strike on Wednesday. In England and Wales, teachers are also considering industrial action over their pay.

And we're waiting to hear which way their unions have voted.

And teachers from five unions in Northern Ireland are continuing to take action which is just short of a strike.

So that's affecting things like whether they go to meetings and the admin that they do as well.

Now this is quite a divisive issue within the teaching community.

So we thought we would head in to the virtual newscast staff room.

Hope this isn't too triggering for you.

But I think you can conjure up the atmosphere of people sat around the room,

never in the middle of the room in my mind and also lots of cups of coffee.

First of all, let's hear from this newscaster who is in favour of strike action and was on strike in Scotland on Tuesday.

Hi Adam, I'm Miss Crow and I teach primary three, four at a small school in the Highlands.

My personal reason for striking is that my home's due for remorgaging in summer and my fixed rate electricity plan ends then too.

This really frightens me because I know I just can't survive paying 20-23 prices when I'm getting a 2018 salary.

I know some people have concerns about the impact these strikes may have on the children,

but I can guarantee you that you don't want your child being taught by a teacher who's sick with stress

about how they're going to make ends meet.

Right, let's cross the staff room to the other side now and hear from a teacher in England who's got a different view.

Hi Adam, it's Mr Roberts.

I'm Mark, I'm a former head teacher, I return to the classroom and I now teach geography on the werel.

I'm not a member of a union and I don't support the proposed strikes.

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