TEACHERS at Poole's Victoria Education Centre took further strike action yesterday, in the first of three consecutive days of planned walkouts.

Members of the National Education Union (NEU) have already taken six days of action against their employer, the charity Livability.

Teachers are angry with changes to their contracts, in particular changes to sick pay and maternity pay which they say no longer matches national terms and conditions most teachers across the country enjoy.

However, Livability, which runs the special school at Lindsay Road, Poole, insists the new contracts remain in line with national pay and pension conditions.

Charity bosses say the new contracts are necessary to support the 'long term financial sustainability' of the organisation.

Unions and bosses are set to meet today in the hope of hammering out an agreement that will end any future walkouts.

NEU senior regional officer Ian McCann said: "I am hopeful that this meeting will be fruitful and am confident that meaningful negotiation will resolve this dispute."

In addition to holding a picket yesterday, NEU members picked up litter on Branksome Chine Beach during the morning.

Mr McCann said: "Our teacher members have now undertaken six days of strike action and a further 13 days are planned.

"Our members would rather be in the classroom supporting and educating the pupils of the Victoria Education Centre.

"However, they also wish to be recognised as the dedicated professionals they are.

"Our teacher members are not prepared to continue working under eroded terms and conditions of employment that do not match the national terms and conditions that most teachers across the country have."

The strike days are set for Tuesday, April 27, up until Thursday, April 29.

On the decision to spend yesterday morning picking up litter on Branksome Chine Beach and the surrounding area, one of the teachers taking part said: "We live and work in this area, are part of the great community and want to use our time productively whilst we are having to take strike because of the actions of Livability downgrading our terms and conditions.

"We don’t want rubbish on the beach or rubbish contracts.”