Education across the city came to a virtual standstill when members of the National Union of Teachers embarked on one-day strike action last month.

Thousands of children and teenagers across Sunderland, County Durham, and South Tyneside, were told to stay at home because of the strike, which closed dozens of schools and colleges.

Only 20 out of 100 primary and secondary schools in Sunderland remained open as normal, meaning more than 33,000 pupils had to stay at home
Howard Brown, the NUT's divisional officer for Wearside, said although the union has confirmed there will be no more action during the remainder of this academic year, he couldn't rule out further protests next term.

The Hetton School teacher, said: "The one-day action was always about raising awareness among the public about the pay issues.
"We always knew it was a long-term campaign and we weren't going to get immediate results."

Mr Brown said the NUT is joining other public sector unions in their fight for better pay and conditions and will be keen to see what offers are made to other workers later this year and early next year.

The union voted to strike over the Government's proposals for a 2.45 per cent pay rise, which they say is well below inflation.

On the same day the NUT held it's action, the UCU, University and College Union, also went on strike along with industrial action by the coastguard and the Public and Commercial Services Union, PCS, which represents Government workers.

Mr Brown, who represents the 1,500 members of the NUT in Sunderland, said the union was delighted with the turnout on the day of the strike.
Prior to the strike he believes the Government thought the vast majority of members would not support the strike and that parents would not back the teachers.

But, he said they were wrong on both counts because members came out in force right across the country and parents were not against the principle of the strike, just some complaints about having to meet extra childcare costs.

Mr Brown said the Government has agreed a pay deal to give teachers an increase of 2.3 per cent in 2009 and 2010 and this is what the union is concentrating on changing.