A strike is a work stoppage in protest of labour conditions.

Teachers across the country have been striking in protest of Boris Johnson’s education reforms. But what is a strike? And why are teachers striking? The UK is no stranger to industrial action, but teachers seem to be at the forefront of this movement. So what exactly is a strike? And why are teachers striking?

What is a strike?

“A strike is a work stoppage in protest of labour conditions.”

The Oxford English Dictionary defines a strike as “a work stoppage in protest of labour conditions”. It can be used to refer to any kind of worker, from dock workers and taxi drivers to actors and musicians. A key point about strikes, however, is that they must be organised by trade unions. That means that even if you disagree with your employer’s policies, you don’t get to call it a strike on your own.

Why are teachers striking?

“Teachers across the country have been striking in protest of Boris Johnson’s education reforms.”

Since Boris Johnson came into power as Prime Minister on July 23rd 2019, he has pushed for various changes to how schools are run and funded. One such change was announced just before Christmas 2018, when it was revealed that schools would no longer receive money for each pupil they had enrolled at their school – instead receiving an amount based on the number of students who were eligible for free school meals.