'I want to bang heads together', says striking teacher
- Published
"None of us want to be out here," says Dani Hosford.
She is one of the teachers moving their feet and waving their banner to keep warm on the picket line.
"Staff are loyal but if they get offers at other colleges which pay more, they will go as we've all got bills to pay," she added
Ms Hosford is a member of the National Education Union (NEU) that is taking action because most teachers in schools and academies received a 5.5% pay increase this year, but sixth form colleges were not included.
The government said colleges are responsible for staff pay levels.
Ms Hosford says the union raised the issue in the summer that some college staff would miss out on the pay award.
"The cogs are turning so slowly in government, this is the future of our profession and I just want to bang some heads together and say sort this out, it's so important."
Five thousand students attend Barton Peveril College in Eastleigh from across south Hampshire.
Some lessons have been cancelled, but teachers on the picket line admitted they suggested what students should be doing at home as they prepare for mock exams.
Hampshire is unusual as most post-16 study takes place in colleges, not schools.
Barton Peveril in Eastleigh, Peter Symonds in Winchester and Itchen College in Southampton are all affected by strike action.
George Morrison teaches A-level Maths and Further Maths and joined the picket line.
He said: "The maths on this doesn't add up, I want to continue working here but I know there are lots of maths' teachers' (jobs) which would pay more."
Mr Morrison said he was worried about his students missing time in the classroom but felt they had to fight the "bigger cause".
Teachers are due to strike again on 4 December.
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