This week’s primary school assembly and classroom discussion focus on recent events in the news, with a particular look at the increasing number of workers in the UK deciding to take strike action. In the News: Strikes Across the UK Many different workers, including rail staff, barristers, call centre staff, and postal workers, are choosing to strike—refusing to work for a period of time. This action is mainly taken due to issues around low pay and poor working conditions. Disagreements related to pay and workplace conditions are currently at their highest point in five years, fuelled by a combination of competition for workers, rising living costs, and falling wages. One high-profile example is the recent walkout by around 115,000 Royal Mail employees, with postal workers going on strike in August and early September over pay disputes. Such strikes highlight the rights that many workers exercise to improve their situations, but also underline the difficulties faced by both employees and employers during these periods. What is a Strike? How Does It Work? A strike is a form of action where workers collectively refuse to work, aiming for changes from their employers. Generally, a union—a group of workers representing a collective voice—organises the strike. Workers vote on whether to proceed, and, if the majority agrees, they must notify their bosses at least 14 days in advance. Ideally, this notice leads to discussions and negotiations. If not, the strike moves forward, with workers either not attending their jobs or forming a ‘picket line’ to raise awareness of their concerns to the public and their employers. Why Do Workers Strike? The decision to strike is often driven by issues like low pay, long hours, or poor workplace conditions. Increased costs of living and high competition in the job market have added pressure on many workers to seek change. For example, Hannah Carrol, a postal worker, explained that many colleagues are forced to work excessive overtime—sometimes up to seventy hours a week—just to make ends meet. How Might People Feel About Strikes? Strikes can bring out a range of emotions, both for those taking action and those affected by disruptions. Some may feel despondent, frustrated, or angry, while others may even feel hopeful or buoyant if they believe change is possible. Strikes also impact communities and the wider economy, inviting debate about both immediate challenges and longer-term solutions. Taking Action: Examples From Everyday Life Taking action to address a concern doesn’t always mean going on strike. Children and young people take action in a variety of ways, whether by befriending a lonely classmate, organising a litter pick, or practising a new skill until they succeed. Sometimes, simply talking about worries with someone trusted leads to positive change. Reflecting on Actions Among the stories shared: Ishaaq reached out to a lonely classmate and found friendship. Santiago organised a local litter pick and wrote to his MP to request more bins. Zara spoke to her mum about her worries and found it very helpful. Talia practised riding her bike until she succeeded. Teddy, who loves wild animals, expressed concern about endangered species, but wasn’t sure what action to take. These examples show there are many ways—big or small—to make a difference, and remind us that every action counts. Historic Strikes: Learning From the Past Strikes have a long history in the UK and around the world. Some notable examples include: 1926 – The General Strike: This major strike was called by the Trade Union Congress to protest reduced miners’ wages and increased hours. Thousands from different industries joined the action, which lasted for nine days and had a significant national impact. 1984–1985 – The Miners’ Strike: When plans were announced to close 20 coal pits and cut 20,000 jobs, more than half of the country’s miners went on strike. The dispute deeply affected many communities, impacting those who chose to strike and those who didn’t. 2002 – Firefighters’ Strike: Firefighters striked for better pay, seeking a 39% rise. After weeks of negotiations and a series of strikes, a pay increase of 16% was agreed upon. 2019 – Global Climate Strikes: Millions of children worldwide joined together to raise their voices about climate change, choosing to strike and participate in protests to urge governments to take more action. Other Ways to Have Your Voice Heard While striking is one way to raise concerns, there are many different approaches to making your voice heard or seeking change. These include protesting, writing letters, posting on social media, or starting campaigns to raise awareness. The aim is always to draw attention to an issue and, hopefully, inspire discussion or action from others. Reflection and Discussion Everyone, children and adults alike, will sometimes feel things are unfair. It is important to know that you have the right to express your opinions and take action. Listening to the voices of others and working together can help build understanding and achieve positive change. Unions often play a crucial role in this process, combining the voices of many people to increase their impact. Further Ideas for Class and Home For schools, these topics open up great discussion points, such as exploring the different jobs at Royal Mail or thinking about logos and the power of group identity. Older students might research historic strikes, creating presentations to share what they learn with others. Younger children might think of slogans for the changes they want to see or share ways they have taken positive action. Useful Vocabulary Here are some terms that are helpful for discussing strikes and related actions: Strike: A refusal to work for a period of time, usually due to disagreements about pay, conditions, or job losses. Disputes: Arguments between people or groups. Employer: The person or organisation people work for. Employee: Someone who is paid to work for someone else. Opinions: Thoughts or beliefs about something. Driven: Motivated by someone or something. Taking Action: Why It Matters Taking action can help achieve change, achieve personal goals, or help others. Whether it’s through striking, organising events, or speaking up, it’s important to remember that our voices have power. Many people throughout history have taken part in strikes and other actions to come together and have their voices heard. If you feel something isn’t fair, consider what steps you can take, who you might ask for help, and what you hope to achieve. Sometimes, small actions can lead to big changes. Explore the latest Picture News resources here: https://picture-news.co.uk/free-sample Join our latest discussion here: https://picture-news.co.uk/discuss Explore our recent events and training here: https://picture-news.co.uk/training
