Unions from all over Hertfordshire came together in solidarity to call for fairer pay and working conditions yesterday, taking action to defend public services.

Hertfordshire's teachers, lecturers, and university staff went on strikes, alongside ambulance workers, civil servants and railway workers.

Teachers strike

Approximately 6,600 teaching members of the National Education Union (NEU) in Hertfordshire went strike on Wednesday, February 1, to take a stand over pay, fundinf cuts and working conditions.

Welwyn Hatfield Times: Picketers at the demonstration making their way to Hatfield.Picketers at the demonstration making their way to Hatfield. (Image: Robert Cox)

Welwyn Hatfield Times: Robert Cox at the NEU demonstration.Robert Cox at the NEU demonstration. (Image: Jacqui Freeman)

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Shaun Murtagh-Howard, NEU president for Hertfordshire, commented: “We have constantly tried to tell the Government that things are going very wrong – in talks with the Department for Education (DfE), in meetings with ministers, in letters, in our evidence to the teachers’ pay review body. But this Government has just ignored us”.

University strikes

Staff and lecturers from the Univeristy of Hertfordshire also went on strike yesterday. 

Members of the union from the Hatfield-based university picketed outside its College Lane campus, deHavilland Campus, and at the White Lion Square in Hatfield Town centre.

Enough is Enough strikes 

Campaign group Enough is Enough hosted the rally in Hatfield Town centre and heard speeches by representatives of Aslef, CWU, GMB, NEU, PCS, UCU and Unite calling for a fair pay rise and taking action to defend public services.

Speakers and members from the seven different trade unions rallied in White Lion Square at lunchtime yesterday as part of the Trade Union Congress day of action to defend the right to strike.

Welwyn Hatfield Times: Seven different unions came together in Hatfield town centre to fight for their right to strike.Seven different unions came together in Hatfield town centre to fight for their right to strike. (Image: Jacqui Freeman)

Welwyn Hatfield Times: The demonstration in Hatfield that had members from seven unions.The demonstration in Hatfield that had members from seven unions. (Image: Larry Crofton)

Welwyn Hatfield Times: Enough is Enough hosted the demonstration in Hatfield Town centre.Enough is Enough hosted the demonstration in Hatfield Town centre. (Image: Larry Crofton)