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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:
Flisspaps · 23/11/2011 21:01

jollydiane Actually, society didn't. The overwhelming majority voted for someone other than the Conservatives, and then they all sorted out amongst themselves who would actually be in charge anyway.

ceebeegeebies · 23/11/2011 21:02

I am in a tricky situation as I work for the NHS (office staff - not frontline) and we were told weeks ago that no leave requests would be approved for that day (other than ones pre-booked).

As it has become apparent that the schools may also be closed, what am I meant to do?? As it is, DH has juggled his work commitments round so he can work from home next Wednesday but this will be pretty crap for DS1 who is only 5, is not the best at entertaining himself and I will be out of the house for over 8 hours (and DH really will need to work) Sad

Am hoping it is cancelled/nobody strikes at our work and then maybe my boss will let me leave at lunchtime.

abbierhodes · 23/11/2011 21:02

Spicyorange you will still be paid if you're not striking. If you're a teacher you should be in a union.

hwjm1945 · 23/11/2011 21:02

I am not a great fan of teachers, I think they do an averagely hard job, with good hols and good pension and not bad pay, partic outside London. I do not think they are saints or indeed martyrs. However, they are facing having their agreed terms and conditions of employment slashed......... we as a society have hard won employmnet law rights and they are exercising them by considering and then undertaking strike action. The school is there to teachl uor kids, not to provide a chidlcare service. We have known for weeks that this 30 November ation was very likely, so it would be sensible to make alternative arragnements so far as you can, on the basis that the strike will go ahead.

YANBU to complain about short notice - the high probability has been around for ages.

AnyFucker · 23/11/2011 21:05

diane...we didn't vote for this govt

this is an unelected govt we have here

jollydiane · 23/11/2011 21:05

If people cannot be bothered to vote then how can you be surprised by the outcome. The government is made up of our elected MP's. If enough people didn't want this to happen then it wouldn't. It is a very unpopular move. Why haven't your unions influenced Labour sufficiently to get into power if the whole population disagree with it?

spicyorange · 23/11/2011 21:06

Im not a teacher im a lunchtime supervisor, Our school will be shut up no access, our head saying that if we cannot go to another school we will have to take time off unpaid. As far as they are concerned we wont be paid.

ohanotherone · 23/11/2011 21:06

The thing is that labour had years to sort this out...they bottled it because the unions are some of there biggest backers but pensions are a problem which needs to be addressed and I wish they had tackled this properly years ago.

IMO everyone in this country should be enrolled in a pension scheme. There would be top up credits for disabled people, carers, and following a new child.

AnyFucker · 23/11/2011 21:08

am not arguing with you, diane

just stating a fact

and it's not that people couldn't be bothered to vote, it's that one party did not get a large enough majority

although I totally understand the apathy...the whole lot of 'em all exist to line their own pockets as has always been the way

Ineedacleaneriamalazyslattern · 23/11/2011 21:10

YANBU our council made the decision at the end of last week just to close schools that day to allow parents time to make other arrangement and the after school clubs to make a decision on opening that day. As it turned out I was able to take the day off work

jollydiane · 23/11/2011 21:11

Maybe, using your logic, what was the percentage turn out for voting for strikes within your union. Again I'm not trying to have a bun fight here, I just interested. Wink

hwjm1945 · 23/11/2011 21:12

Just out of interest, ohanotherone, in what way are pensions a problem?

FontSnob · 23/11/2011 21:13

Ohnoanother, the pensions are being addressed in a way that will give the govt a large plot to plunder. An extra tax on the public sector. That is fair how?

AnyFucker · 23/11/2011 21:13

diane, since you asked nicely, hang on a mo, I will tell you the exact figure

it is high, I will tell you that

ColonelBrandon · 23/11/2011 21:14

Am a teacher, just not a very political or informed one when it comes to strike action, so am wading through online information but I have a few questions:

Do I have to tell my HT if I am taking strike action? We were asked today to let our union reps know what our decision was, so they could go to the HT with numbers.

If my own children's school close on the 30th and I have to stay home to look after them, like other parents will, am I deemed to be on strike, even if I don't choose to go on strike?

I heard an argument today, that said that back in 2002, the govt contribution to the teacher pension rose to 13%, 14% now, whilst the teachers contribute 8%, making it one of the best pension schemes in the world. And that teachers should pay in more. Is that true? And why does that then compute to teachers having to work longer and for less?

1Catherine1 · 23/11/2011 21:15

jollydiane Wed 23-Nov-11 20:56:46
... well society did vote for this government.

Well, that is debatable.

spicyorange - quite sure they are not allowed to do that. If you turn up on the day and are sent away then I'm sure they have to pay you. There will be teachers who are in the union who are advised not to strike - those approaching retirement, pregnant teachers and student teachers will all not be striking with the backing of the union. Unless ofc you are a supply teacher? Then who knows...

YANBU to wish that you knew for sure but YABU to expect it. At my school our headteacher requested that the union rep tried to obtain possible numbers of how many teachers will be striking next week so she could better inform the parents but I'm not sure how many people passed this info onto the union rep. They also got that letter this evening.

FontSnob · 23/11/2011 21:15

Ceebeegeebees... Our dear prime minister suggests you should take your children to work with you.

AnyFucker · 23/11/2011 21:15

ok, I looked it up

66% turn out rate (very high for a professional union)

of those returning, 86% voted for strike action (again extreemly high, without precedent, in fact)

JaxTellerIsMyFriend · 23/11/2011 21:16

I wont know until next Monday (28th) whether both schools that my children attend will be closed, open, or whatever else on 30th.

Of course it is an inconvenience thats the whole point of a strike.

ColonelBrandon · 23/11/2011 21:16

Sorry, typo "if my own children's school closes"...and ignore any others, am saving my best errors for the reports

jamdonut · 23/11/2011 21:17

Our school will be open to non strikers. I will find plenty of jobs I can do that I haven't been able to get done...particularly tidying cuboards and labelling stuff!

FontSnob · 23/11/2011 21:19

Colonel. No you do not have to tell your HT. your rep will have to tell them the number of union members that may strike. They also may choose to tell the HT who those people are, however they are not legally obliged to. In our school time off on that day will be counted as strike if youre in a union or a breach of contract if your not. Illness needs a doctors note.

1Catherine1 · 23/11/2011 21:21

Illness needs a doctors note. Wink

Good luck getting an NHS appointment...

ColonelBrandon · 23/11/2011 21:24

So might as well say I am taking strike action, if I'm going to be deemed on strike by staying home to look after the children? [head spins/wonders off in search of political convictions]

ninah · 23/11/2011 21:24

catherine do you have any info on what happens for student teachers on gtp? I can't seem to find clear advice on what to do