More teacher strikes?

[Wildintheriver]

So I know this may end up being contentious and that’s not the intention but I do want to know where I stand. My understanding is that NASUWT are balloting their members (I am one) and we may be striking if the threshold is met.

I don’t want to strike , I just can’t afford to. I don’t necessarily need this to be a debate, but it is a source of a bit of worry.

It’s generally considered a bad thing to be part of the union and not strike if a strike is called. My questions are:

1. how true is this really? Wouldn’t the Union rather have my support as a paying member than leave?
2. this then limits my options as AFAIK no unions are non striking … I know EDAPT exists but they aren’t quite the same and don’t offer the same services for want of a better word.
3. do we know when the strikes are called for?

thanks. Hope the post is taken in the spirit it’s intended.

I’m in the NEU, so slightly different but DP is in the NASUWT. Afaik, they don’t kick you out for not striking. Ideally, union members would support the motion to strike, but everyone’s personal circumstances are different.

They won’t know when the strikes will be called until after the ballot I would have thought.

If you are really opposed to striking, you could make suggestions to your union about other forms of action.