As the Conservative Party Conference meets in Manchester, hundreds of members of the NASUWT, the largest teachers’ union in UK, today took part in a march and rally in the city to demonstrate about the Government’s damaging programme of austerity and their attacks on the rights of working people, families and children and young people.

Organised by the TUC, the ‘No to austerity, Yes to workers’ rights’ march saw teachers and their friends and families join with tens of thousands of ordinary working people and their families to highlight their deep concern over crippling austerity measures and the erosion of the rights of ordinary people.

Speaking at the march, Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT, said:

“Today we are marching and rallying as families, workers and trade unionists because fundamental rights, entitlements and freedoms are being attacked by a government committed to continuing to build on the shameful legacy of its time in coalition.

“We are standing up today for the right of working people to be treated with respect and dignity.

“Our strong and powerful today to the Conservative government is that no acts of Parliament will silence the voice of trade unions.

“Trade unions are alive and well and will not stand idly by while this government attacks our democratic freedoms and our social values of community, solidarity, equity and social justice.”

Sarah Duncan, NASUWT member and a primary school teacher from the North West spoke at the march.

She said: “By participating in my union’s industrial action I have been standing up for standards.

“Just as the government’s attacks on teachers are attacks on the children and young people I teach, when I support my union in defending my working conditions, I am defending the education provision for all children and young people.”