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Original poster

Militant leftie teachers will NOT be striking (NASUWT England)

167 replies

noblegiraffe · 12/01/2023 19:22

The ballots have been counted and despite 90% of the votes being in favour of strike action, only 42% of members returned their ballot therefore the 50% threshold of membership voting was not reached and strike action will not take place.

This is for NASUWT members, the second biggest teaching union. The largest teaching union, the NEU, will be announcing its results early next week (possibly Sunday). The NAHT headteachers' union will also be announcing strike ballot results shortly.

If the NEU strike and the NASUWT don't, schools still may close. If headteachers strike, who knows as it has never happened before.

OP posts:
JRHartley72 · 12/01/2023 19:24

Militant leftie teachers

Are you being sarcastic?

Original poster
noblegiraffe · 12/01/2023 19:25

Well clearly. If we were all militant lefties, as the media would paint us, we'd have managed to organise a strike.

Even the driving examiners managed it.

OP posts:
meditrina · 12/01/2023 19:30

NASUWT strike ballots are non-binding, which might a contributory factor in low return of ballot - less incentive to bother to vote against if you know you don't have to strike whichever way it goes

Original poster
noblegiraffe · 12/01/2023 19:31

I thought the opposite, meditrina, as NASUWT strikes so rarely, that when they called for action, you were expected to. Can't find it written anywhere though.

OP posts:
Moonshine86 · 12/01/2023 19:32

I think it will be close for NEU.

Original poster
noblegiraffe · 12/01/2023 19:33

Is this the first national ballot for the NEU since the merger?

OP posts:
NeverDropYourMooncup · 12/01/2023 19:34

The NEU contains support staff now - far less likely to be able to afford to strike in the first place and therefore less likely to return their ballots. The increase in numbers of people least likely to vote at all, never mind in favour, means it's less likely than in previous decades.

Original poster
noblegiraffe · 12/01/2023 19:36

Well I hope that people don't take the lack of strike action as a sign that all is well in schools. FFS.

OP posts:
MadMadMadamMim · 12/01/2023 19:40

I am so pissed off by this. Utterly apathetic to not bother vote, and a real kick in the teeth to those that DO want to be heard on the topic of how poor conditions are in schools.

I am NEU and am hoping that more than 50% of members actually vote.

Moonshine86 · 12/01/2023 19:41

Absolutely agree! It’s a shit show at my school and the school I teach at is considered to be on the whole a great school. The building is in a dire state yet no funds to fix leaking roofs. The number of students with mental health problems with limited support is heartbreaking. As a parent of a child with SEND and witnessing the lack of support available in school for pupils I am extremely anxious.

Clarabellawilliamson · 12/01/2023 19:43

I am in NASUWT and did return my ballot. I did all I could to get my immediate colleagues to return theirs too (regardless of a yes or no vote for this very reason!!) I don't think people know about the minimum turnout, so that their vote even if it WAS 'no' was important.

Anyway I'm really really cross that only 42% voted. I wanted to have my voice heard!!

Theimpossiblegirl · 12/01/2023 19:44

I'm gutted, it just sends the message that everything is fine in school and the minority are just moaning.

If you didn't vote, I'd love to hear your excuses.

Leftittothelastminute · 12/01/2023 19:44

How many votes were/are stuck in the post? Assuming it is done through postal votes and not online.

Whinge · 12/01/2023 19:47

That's really disappointing. Sad

Clarabellawilliamson · 12/01/2023 19:58

It has to be postal @Leftittothelastminute

Leftittothelastminute · 12/01/2023 20:00

Clarabellawilliamson · 12/01/2023 19:58

It has to be postal @Leftittothelastminute

That's a shame then..... the government helped out by the postal strike.

Frangipane5 · 12/01/2023 20:00

@noblegiraffe I’ve been with NASUWT over 20 years. I didn’t receive a ballot form. Not changed my address in 12 years. They’ve stopped sending my anything.

funtycucker · 12/01/2023 20:08

MadMadMadamMim · 12/01/2023 19:40

I am so pissed off by this. Utterly apathetic to not bother vote, and a real kick in the teeth to those that DO want to be heard on the topic of how poor conditions are in schools.

I am NEU and am hoping that more than 50% of members actually vote.

I don't think it is a case of people not bothering to vote. Lots never even received ballot papers despite chasing them numerous times

WonderingWanda · 12/01/2023 20:14

NEU previously NUT much more likely to strike that NASUWT and I think many teachers pick their union with that in mind.

WonderingWanda · 12/01/2023 20:15

NEU have been very persistent with chasing ballots

ilovesooty · 12/01/2023 20:21

Clarabellawilliamson · 12/01/2023 19:43

I am in NASUWT and did return my ballot. I did all I could to get my immediate colleagues to return theirs too (regardless of a yes or no vote for this very reason!!) I don't think people know about the minimum turnout, so that their vote even if it WAS 'no' was important.

Anyway I'm really really cross that only 42% voted. I wanted to have my voice heard!!

I think some of them did know. When the law changed it was in the news anyway. Those disinclined to strike didn't return their ballot papers in some cases I reckon because they knew that if enough people did the same thing they'd be able to ensure that a strike never happened at all. I'm glad I don't teach any more if it means working with spineless fuckers like that.

ilovesooty · 12/01/2023 20:22

Leftittothelastminute · 12/01/2023 19:44

How many votes were/are stuck in the post? Assuming it is done through postal votes and not online.

The government doesn't allow online voting for industrial action.

DottyLittleRainbow · 12/01/2023 20:24

Is it a case of lost/delayed ballots and postal strike issues like the midwives ballot with the RCM in December?

wonderstuff · 12/01/2023 20:25

I’m NASUWT, I did vote, sent it back weeks ago, I’m not surprised, so many teachers have little interest in the union and politics more generally. I’ve not worked in a school with a union rep for at least 15 years.

The idea that teachers are militant is laughable. NEU were more proactive during the pandemic so maybe they’ll do better.

What is happening is a large number of people are voting with their feet, it’s definitely the worst year I’ve known for recruitment. DD secondary are a PE teacher short!

Twiglets1 · 12/01/2023 20:28

Im a TA with NEU and they have been VERY persistent in checking I have voted, to the point of being annoying! I thought it was overkill but apparently not, based on what has happened with this union.
I would be very disappointed to see the same apathy from NEU members. The postal strike is no excuse as we've had month to vote.