AIBU to expect teachers to strike in the school holidays and not in term time.

[NotSuchASmugMarriedNow]

Well am I?

Considering that teachers are always insisting that they work during the school holidays, how come they never strike during the school holidays and always wait until term time to do so?

Odd that!

[teacherwith2kids]

Another idea - a mass 'invite parents in to be taught with their children' day, to answer exactly such questions as LaGuardia has raised...

[clam]

Recent quote from arse-face:

"Mr Gove said: ‘There’s no excuse for going on strike. What is the complaint that teachers have? Is it that pensions are poor?"

Perhaps if he sat down with the union representatives, he might have a fucking clue what the strike is about!

[Turniptwirl]

I don't particularly agree with striking but I think yabvu and clearly fail to understand the point of striking. If teachers announced they were striking on 1st august for example, all the schools and local authorities and parents etc would just smile and nod.

[cricketballs]

a lot of my colleagues started the work to rule with great gusto but with pressure from SLT, parents, OFSTED etc we have very quickly got back to normal with clubs, extra lessons etc running as per norm. I personally can only offer 1 night per week in addition to my normal working life as my SN DS needs me to collect him from various appointments etc but even on that one evening, rather than relaxing with my son I run after school revision sessions then go home, plan, mark write reports etc

[teacherwith2kids]

I tried, Suffoilk.

I fist of all joined a union (ATL) that hadn't struck for dponkeys' years.

Then it went on strike, so I left it, and joined NASUWT, which at that point was not involved in the ATL / NUT strikes.

Now, as far as I am to understand (they haven't sent me anything) they are asking me to strike, so i shall leave that one and move to Voice.

However, it seems a shame that there is not a strong teaching union that is properly opposed to strikes, since certainly amongst those I know, nobody is actually in favour of striking - and none have paid any attention to e.g. work to rule.

[teacherwith2kids]

(I should say, btw, that I and my colleagues have never felt under any pressure NOT to work to rule from e.g. SLT, simply that the question didn't arise because none of us were planning to do so in the first place)

[morethanpotatoprints]

Op, do you have any idea what a strike is for?
at striking during the holidays. Huge impact there, lots of people inconvenienced as a result.
It's the whole idea of a strike, to create an impact. parents having to run around and find childcare for the day will inconvenience them a bit.
Strike a success.

[teacherwith2kids]

Suffolk, then if you want to get Gove to sit down, you have to create a wave of public SUPPORT to force him to do so otherwise he risks the government having egg on its face / being voted out. So do things that get the public support, be imaginative, get all parents on your side. Don't alienate them by striking. It seems like the unions have got themselves into a 'well we have to strike because there's nothing else we can do' mentality, which just seems very ... out of date.

[teacherwith2kids]

Equally, unions have to come to Gove with workable, popular, well thought through, imaginative, creative proposals of their own with children at their heart, not 'we don't want to do what you want us to do, we want how it used to be'.

[Takingbackmonday]

Bloody hate strikes.

Bully politics that disrupt those not involved.

[Spikeytree]

I walk a 1/4 mile between classrooms, up a hill, with no travelling time, carrying a laptop, 33 exercise books plus whatever resources needed that lesson. I do this a minimum of 3 times a day.

That's shit for the kids and for me now. When I'm 68 I think it may kill me.

[Takingbackmonday]

IME if it pisses off the unions it's probably good for the parents.

[echt]

You know those holidays you get when at work? Those conditions of work, health and safety, maternity deals.? Unions got those for you and for millions of workers, Takingbackmonday

[teacherwith2kids]

Yes, and many unions continue to work constructively and collaboratively with employers to continue to improve the lot of workers (though, tbh I had MUCH better pay and conditions in a non-unionised job than I do in teaching - but that's by the by). Were all those good things obtrained through strikes?? Sure??

[Mawgatron]

This is making me sad. Why is it so hard to accept that teachers work hard and do a good job, and therefore don't deserve to be treated this way.

I don't see firefighters getting slated for going on strike. Or London transport workers. I am not striking as I am on maternity but I would be if I was working. Support teachers to continue to do their jobs please!

[Lara2]

Are YBU? Fuck yes!!!

[echt]

Certainly the threat of strike action has always been a powerful persuader.

[teacherwith2kids]

Hmmm - working really well for teachers at the moment, isn't it? Which is why there actually is a strike, because the threat of a strike doesn't work when Gove benefits so much from teachers being unpopular with parents....

[echt]

This particular strike might gain its end, it might not. I was making a general point about union activity over a very long period of time.

[teacherwith2kids]

Echt, I think the point I am making is that many unions have moved on from the 'strike' as a single tool, and are much more sophisticatd in their ways of thinking and working - as befits our very different labour market nowadays. A few unionised industries - teaching being one - seem to have failed to move on in this way, and are left with this single, old-fashioned cudgel of a weapon while all around them are using targeted microsurgery.

[echt]

No, the teaching unions have tried work to rule. They have not gone for the strike first.

Tell me more about the unions who use microsurgery to achieve their ends.

[ivykaty44]

I don't think teaching is an industry, the industry went and the unions with them.

Firemen were striking and other public service workers strike so not just teachers- it is a last report no one wants to strike.

[Takingbackmonday]

ECHT - I'm self employed but thanks.

Unions have changed from a strong force for workers to a bloody nightmare for everyone else.

[MistressIggi]

What position of strength can a union start from if withdrawal of labour is off the table?
Even in negotiations were striking is never mentioned, it is known that that is there as a last resort. Parents should fear a genuine work to rule far more.
It's like a relationship were you have decided that "LTB" is completely off the table. What is your ultimate recourse if the other person continues to treat you badly?