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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

re teacher's strike

284 replies

norton84 · 23/11/2011 19:19

Firstly I have no problem with teacher's striking. I have a young teacher in the family and can see where they are coming from.

However, today I found a letter in dd's book bag saying that the school may or may not be open on 30th and please can we have alternative arrangement in place just in case.
AIBU to think more notice would have been good?

Obv knew stike was possible but as school had not been in touch of course we assumed we would not be affected.

OP posts:
jollydiane · 23/11/2011 20:27

I'm sure many of you will do very well in the private sector, but don't underestimate what it is like. Perhaps we should do a job swap.

If your pensions are self funding that I totally agree this is not being explained enough. I didn't cause the financial crisis is either but I don't like the idea of leaving all the country's debt to my children.

seasidesister · 23/11/2011 20:27

YABU its been all over the news for weeks. NHS and others not just schools. Im a teacher who will be striking. Will it be effective? who knows, but Ive been in teaching 14 years and have never been on strike before. This is not just about pensions but disintegrating working conditions, more and more admin and targets and less time to plan and assess and teach your children. Believe it or not, most teachers care about their students and want the best for them. Working conditions contribute greatly to the students well being and the care we can give.

I do feel that a one day strike sends a message and sometime you have to stand up and be counted. I will lose a days pay which at this time of the year is especially hard.

We do not know yet if our school will close. Many teachers are choosing to go in so they dont lose a days pay.

NinkyNonker · 23/11/2011 20:27

The fact that work to rule doesn't appeal to the public (as demonstrated on here) demonstrates just how much they have come to rely on, and take for granted the teaching profession always going beyond their job spec for the good of the children. Yet despite that they still begrudge them fair treatment.

FontSnob · 23/11/2011 20:31

Jolly, thank you but I have worked in the private sector. I now work in a profession where a high proportion of the workers leave within 5 years. With such poor retention rates, (especially after the cost of the training to the govt and the individual) you have to ask the question, what is going wrong. I'm not striking just because of the pension.

auntiepicklebottom2 · 23/11/2011 20:32

abbierhodes, that is the reality.....my job in the NHS is a cleaner. If i go into work wednesday i will be on muilple jobs as the theatres, intesive care, Sbcu, maternity wards, and all the other wards STILL have to be clean.

same as the catering staff, the patients still have to be fed...the plan of action is that patients will have breakfast as normal, but dinner and tea will be sandwiches and soup.

the nursing side, patients still need treatment, medication, washes and feeding ( i am sure nurses do alot more than this) woemn will still go into labour and midwives are still needed to deliver babies.

FontSnob · 23/11/2011 20:32

I agree with what seasider says.

AnyFucker · 23/11/2011 20:33

the nurses and midwives are not striking on weds, auntiep

jollydiane · 23/11/2011 20:34

Font, I take your point, I couldn't do what teacher do, I have enormous respect for the profession, I am sorry if you thought otherwise.

FontSnob · 23/11/2011 20:35

There is also the view that the govt (who aren't fans of the public sector) is paving the way for more privatisation of many services by lowering the contribution that the employer would have to make.

FontSnob · 23/11/2011 20:37

Jolly, I appreciate that, thank you.

auntiepicklebottom2 · 23/11/2011 20:37

i can say 110% that nurses are....i saw alot of nurses in the union meeting in work today

giveitago · 23/11/2011 20:38

I got a letter today re ds's school - it might be shut it might not.

OP, yanbu. They can strike (I have no issues) but I'd like the school to be aware that parents who don't work in the public sector struggle with this and more formal notice about the potential would have been good. I'm part time. In theory I'll have to go in on Monday and ask for the Wed off - my employers are going to be mighty impressed and I worry about my job (not even the benefits). In this case I'm going to have to call tomorrow and have an awkward convo.

Just some notice about the potential.

soverylucky · 23/11/2011 20:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

jollydiane · 23/11/2011 20:42

Is there a feeling on how many strikes teachers are prepared to have?

AnyFucker · 23/11/2011 20:43

auntiep, does it depend on which union they are in ?

As I understood it, the RCN are balloting in the NY

abbierhodes · 23/11/2011 20:44

Auntiep, when you are in a job where health is put at risk then I understand you are in a difficult position. But in other circumstances striking workers should not be covered.

abbierhodes · 23/11/2011 20:50

I don't know the aanswer to that jollydiane. I hope there aren't too many, I can't afford it!
I also don't actually want to impact the kids I teach. I do my job for a reason.
Most people I know are stressed because of the sheer amount of paperwork, pointless meetings and endless 'new initiatives'. I like the teaching part!

FontSnob · 23/11/2011 20:51

Oh it's okay everyone, David Cameron has the perfect solution to all your child care issues.....wait for it.....everyone is to take their kids to work with them!!

Ta Da!

The man is a fucking genius.

FontSnob · 23/11/2011 20:54

Jamie Oliver made a very good point in an interview I heard at the weekend, he said in the years that he has been working towards better, healthy meals in schools, he has worked with 7 education secretarys. 7 in 6 years (i think that is correct) that is what's damaging education, not a couple of strikes.

wherearemysocka · 23/11/2011 20:56

yes, and every time we get a new education secretary, we also get all of their new 'initiatives' as they try to make their mark. All that happens is a load of half arsed jobs as nothing is allowed to run its course before we're told that we're doing something else.

As was said earlier, this is not just about pensions. Leave us alone and let us do our jobs.

jollydiane · 23/11/2011 20:56

... well society did vote for this government.

spicyorange · 23/11/2011 20:58

We were told it might/might not go ahead and thats as far as i got and i work in school. What im unhappy at is im not in the union and if there is no other school for me to go and work at i will lose my days pay. Think i need my own thread about that one.

jollydiane · 23/11/2011 20:59

Is there a website which articulates what your demands are and how they will be paid for or delivered as I accept I don't actually know the full details.

abbierhodes · 23/11/2011 21:00

No we didn't! Less than 25% of the population voted for the current government. And some of that 25% includes those of us who were shafted by the lib dems doing the unthinkable.