AS 2,000 teachers walk out of schools in this area next Thursday in a row over pay, spare a thought for the thousands of working parents of the 20,000 or so children affected, by the day of action.

Not all schools will close their doors, but for many parents the effects will be the same as individual classes will be cancelled for the day, giving thousands of primary and secondary schoolchildren an extra day off.

For parents that means having to fork out for childcare or face having to take a day off themselves, which is not always easy.

Some schools are yet to decide whether or not they will have to close giving parents the added headache of potentially having to arrange childcare at really short notice.

The action, by members of the National Union of Teachers, is the latest stage in a row over the 2.45 per cent pay rise offered to teachers.

We understand members may have their grievances but we believe taking industrial action is not the way to win such an argument.

Nor do we believe it will earn teachers much support from parents, many of whom work in the private sector, which is currently undergoing its own belt tightening exercise.

The NUT is the only teaching union to take industrial action over this pay offer.

We feel it is a step too far.