In a response to an “excessive workload, unfair pay and changes to pensions”, the National Union of Teachers (NUT) will be taking industrial action by going on strike this Wednesday. EastLondonLines took to the streets in New Cross, asking local parents how and if they will be affected. 

Claire Tempest and son

Claire Tempest, 44, self-employed from New Cross: “I agree that the teachers should be able to strike.  I’ve got two daughters at school so they are going to be off on Wednesday, but I still think that teachers have the right to strike when they need to.”

Lanie Nonice

Lanie Nonice, 49, grandmother from Brockley: “My daughter’s going to go to court tomorrow, and the strike will really affect her, because it means the eldest is in school and the second eldest is off school, so she’s going to have to take him along which is really awkward, so it’s really difficult.”

Sarah Bamber

Sarah Bamber, 41, stay-at-home mother from Deptford: “My children go to St Steven’s Deptford Primary school.  They haven’t been affected at all.  I’m not worried that it will affect them or me in the future, if they come they come.”

Emeral Hunt

Emeral Hunt, 38, Father of two, Lewisham: “My children’s school is not on strike, but I think it will affect parents with childcare, and hopefully it won’t affect me and my children in the future.”

Nico Chilo

Nico Chilo, 30, stay-at-home mother, from Lewisham: “My daughter is still in nursery.  I think that striking is a valid form of democracy, and something that all employees are allowed to express, and they do so in numbers to make it more effective.  So really they’ve got good reasons behind it always and parents just have to make other arrangements.”

Danielle Telfer

Danielle Telfer, 29, teacher from New Cross: “Even though I’m a teacher, I’m currently on maternity leave, so I’m a bit out of the loop. But I can definitely tell that the strikes will affect childcare and working mums.”

Contributed by Kathryn Sunnucks and Athena Stylli.