A recruitment crisis is coming': Readers debate looming teacher strike threat

"Many commenters argued that headline pay rises mask a reality of falling real-terms earnings, worsened pensions and unpaid overtime, with teachers routinely working 50 to 60 hours a week during term time and much of the holidays. They described excessive paperwork, outdated IT and a lack of SEND support as key drivers of burnout, saying staff are being asked to prop up failing systems with their own time and money."

"Cost and fairness dominated the debate. Some readers backed industrial action as inevitable after years of erosion in pay and conditions, warning that schools face a growing recruitment and retention crisis as teachers leave for the private sector or jobs overseas. Others were more sceptical, arguing that strikes risk fuelling inflation and that productivity, not pay demands, is the real issue."

The Independent covers national issues including reproductive rights, climate change and Big Tech while producing documentaries such as 'The A Word' about American women fighting for reproductive rights. Donations fund on-the-ground reporting and allow open access without paywalls, with costs met by those who can afford to support quality journalism. Reader responses to union warnings about possible teacher strikes described a crisis driven by workload, underfunding and systemic strain. Commenters cited falling real-terms pay, worsened pensions, unpaid overtime, excessive paperwork, outdated IT and lack of SEND support, with some backing strikes and others warning about inflation and productivity concerns.

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