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Egy Talk, Plainteor, Unrivaled Talk, Mike Graham, the only radio show you can count on for a proper serving of good old-fashioned common sense.

In search of the perfect debate, the Independent Republic of Mike Graham.

See it, hear it, think it, talk radio and talk TV.

Good morning and welcome to the Independent Republic of Mike Graham right here on Talk TV.

My voice appears to have returned relatively to normal, so we shall see how long that lasts.

We've got a pretty long day going on today, so it will be required.

There's lots going on, there's also quite a lot not going on, because if you're a teacher, of course, you will be on strike today.

You may not be on strike, but you may not be in the school nonetheless because an awful lot of schools have had to shut down.

Why? Not because they didn't know whether they could open because they didn't have enough teachers,

but because they didn't actually know how many teachers were going to go on strike. This has been a spat that I've been having since about Friday afternoon when I got a letter from my own son's school,

basically saying we do not know how many teachers are going to go out on strike on Wednesday,

so therefore, unfortunately we will have to shut the school.

So an awful lot of people sitting at home right now looking after their school-aged children

because they don't have

any choice. So a lot of people not able to go to work today, not able to make money in some cases

because of the teachers going on strike, despite the fact that they got a 9% pay rise last October

and despite the fact that they are in some of the best paid jobs in the public sector.

There'll be plenty of time for you to argue with me.

If you are a striking teacher and you're not actually on the picket line, congratulations,

well done for putting another great spanner in the works of the civilised world.

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