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Original poster

What are teachers doing with their day on strike days?

137 replies

Brendabigbaps · 15/03/2023 11:40

I was reading the strike thread earlier and it struck me that I haven’t seen any of the teachers sat outside school on a picket line etc as they would have been years ago. We’ve got 3 schools locally, all closed but no sign of picket lines.

So what are they doing with their days?

OP posts:
Abraxan · 15/03/2023 11:42

At my school the teachers who were on strike the last two times went into town for the march/protests there. Our school is partially open and a picket line wouldn't be appropriate for the children coming into school.

Polis · 15/03/2023 11:42

Probably at home, marking.

cocksstrideintheevening · 15/03/2023 11:43

My husband is in school online teaching. He can't afford the paycut this time around.

Interested in this thread?

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General education
Shinyandnew1 · 15/03/2023 11:46

They don’t have to stand outside their school-it’s not compulsory. There are tens of thousands meeting up in London at Trafalgar Square today.

LilacLooRoll · 15/03/2023 11:48

At home with my kids (their schools are also closed for the strike).

Staff take turns on the picket line. Tomorrow will be our third strike day this year, so plenty of opportunity 😬

FourEyesGood · 15/03/2023 11:51

I was on the picket line with three of my colleagues this morning (and will be again tomorrow). I would have loved to have joined in the big event in London but need to be around here instead for family reasons.
For the rest of the day, I’ll be catching up on some work (I know I shouldn’t, but it’ll free up my weekend a bit) and playing board games with my children.

LoopyGremlin · 15/03/2023 11:51

I'm in Scotland and our strikes are now finished as a deal has been reached. Some, including me, were on the picket line but many stayed at home and had a long lie or looked after their kids- as is their right when they are not being paid!

Sprogonthetyne · 15/03/2023 11:52

Even closed schools are often still making provision for vulnerable children. I assume the teachers don't want to scare any children that do attend, so any who are picketing/ protesting are doing it elsewhere.

MrsR87 · 15/03/2023 11:54

I’m on maternity leave at the minute so
not involved. But on the last days, I know most of my department were marking or doing admin tasks at home. They shouldn’t have been but when you’re so far behind your everyday tasks despite working through dinner breaks, in the evenings and weekends, it’s hard to pass up such an opportunity. If I was at work I would have done my alarm etc for normal time etc and worked my normal hours in the hope that doing so would afford me a work free day at the weekend.

GuyFawkesDay · 15/03/2023 11:54

Not striking, NASUWT.

In school teaching exam years and marking a million mock exams

FASDE1517 · 15/03/2023 11:56

The point of a picket line is to encourage other union members not to cross it. All our eligible members are striking and our classes are shut so little point in picketing on our quiet school cul de sac.
Plus we all have our own children who are off school. My strike days are spent babysitting / hosting playdates to help out working friends whose children's schools are shut.

Not getting paid today is making my point enough.

Sunnysunbun · 15/03/2023 11:56

Pickets ended at 9 and then people are heading to the demo. Is that ok with you? I got on the picket line at 7.30am.

Postapocalypticcowgirl · 15/03/2023 11:59

Today, there is a massive NEU march in London, so a lot of teachers are going there- hence smaller/non existent pickets today.

We also don't tend to picket closed schools where non-striking staff are working from home.

Last two strike days we had pickets and more local marches.

Tomorrow, I will be picketing and going to a local march/rally.

Everyone in the union locally says that our pickets are much bigger than previous strikes.

Maybe check out the NEU on social media to see what is going on?

I also know a lot of teachers who are losing a day's pay by striking, but are actually working, at least a bit, at home!

Original poster
Brendabigbaps · 15/03/2023 12:02

Sunnysunbun · 15/03/2023 11:56

Pickets ended at 9 and then people are heading to the demo. Is that ok with you? I got on the picket line at 7.30am.

Someone has a bee in their bonnet! At no point did I criticise. I asked a question. Good help the kids in your class if that’s your response to a simple question

OP posts:
SlicerAndEcho · 15/03/2023 12:04

Whatever they want. They’re not being paid.

The majority of teachers can recognise a disingenuous question when they hear one.

Lawazlawoo · 15/03/2023 12:05

SlicerAndEcho · 15/03/2023 12:04

Whatever they want. They’re not being paid.

The majority of teachers can recognise a disingenuous question when they hear one.

Came on to say the exact same thing.

They are not getting paid. They can do what they want.

Lawazlawoo · 15/03/2023 12:06

The home office is also on strike today. Would you like to know what they're up to too?

RuthW · 15/03/2023 12:09

My dd is at home marking exam papers which she would otherwise have to do after she gets hone at 7pm or weekends.

WinterMusings · 15/03/2023 12:11

Brendabigbaps · 15/03/2023 12:02

Someone has a bee in their bonnet! At no point did I criticise. I asked a question. Good help the kids in your class if that’s your response to a simple question

Show quote history

It's wasn't 'a simple question' it was a goady one.

NOTE: NOT a teacher. No skin in the game.

7eleven · 15/03/2023 12:11

I can see that one of the pious, wind up merchants is posting on mumsnet. 🙄

7eleven · 15/03/2023 12:12

SlicerAndEcho · 15/03/2023 12:04

Whatever they want. They’re not being paid.

The majority of teachers can recognise a disingenuous question when they hear one.

Quite.

TeenLifeMum · 15/03/2023 12:14

A couple of my dc teachers are replying to my dc on Google classroom (because even in the strike they are amazing and put the dc first). I don’t believe all teachers are like this but my experience of state secondary is very dedicated teachers.

Briallen · 15/03/2023 12:17

Brendabigbaps · 15/03/2023 12:02

Someone has a bee in their bonnet! At no point did I criticise. I asked a question. Good help the kids in your class if that’s your response to a simple question

Show quote history

Oh come on
‘so what are they all doing with their days?’
is a goady question. They aren’t being paid. They can do whatever they like. Do you ask this when the junior doctors strike or the train drivers? Do you ask what they are doing with their days too?!

Original poster
Brendabigbaps · 15/03/2023 12:17

SlicerAndEcho · 15/03/2023 12:04

Whatever they want. They’re not being paid.

The majority of teachers can recognise a disingenuous question when they hear one.

Not at all, I asked a simple question as I’m interested to know.

OP posts:
Montasaurus · 15/03/2023 12:19

Striking. No picketing allowed in my school (I am in the minority as NASUWT is dominant).

Day 1/2 I did no school related activities. I learnt my lesson - ended up working so much harder and at weekends afterwards.

I have taken marking home and worked extra late yesterday for these two days.

Simply put, that’s why we are striking and why your sons/daughters are being taught by multiple under qualified teachers. No one wants to be in teaching anymore.