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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that the NUT strike WILL cause quite a lot of disruption actually!

127 replies

owlbegoing · 20/06/2014 19:52

The NUT leader said that next month's strike date had been chosen to "cause minimum disruption to examinations" - and that "we deeply regret the disruption it causes parents and pupils".
What about other end of term events like Summer fairs and year 6 performances? They don't matter do they because they don't count towards government statistics!!

OP posts:
WaitMonkey · 20/06/2014 20:30

I'm 100% behind the teaches and strike action. Gove will destroy education if people don't stand up to him. And YABU, the entire point of a strike is to cause distribution. Wouldn't be much point otherwise.

TheReluctantCountess · 20/06/2014 20:33

The strike was initially set for June, but was postponed so it would collide with strikes by other (non-teaching) unions. It is likely that a lot of support staff will be striking as well.

manicinsomniac · 20/06/2014 20:39

Teachers aren't stupid or heartless . If striking will cause problems or upset for the pupils then they won't strike of course!

The last big strike coincided with a major school production I'd been rehearsing for months. Set booked, licence bought, tickets sold etc. Of course I couldn't strike and cancel!

Strikes never get off the ground at our school. There's always some event happening and we aren't in the business of taking opportunities away from children!

threepiecesuite · 20/06/2014 20:41

What date is the strike? The majority of our staff are Nasuwt who do not have any strike action planned at present.

TheReluctantCountess · 20/06/2014 20:42

10th July.

AndreasVesalius · 20/06/2014 20:45

It falls in our activities week when we had 3 years out on trips. We've re-arranged to miss that day.

If you are in a union and the members vote for strike action, you really should strike unless you have union dispensation not to. If you don't want to strike then leave that union and join another.

Caff2 · 20/06/2014 20:50

I'm no longer a teacher, or a member of a union, but this comment

"Strikes never get off the ground at our school. There's always some event happening and we aren't in the business of taking opportunities away from children!"

made me think [hmmm] Hopefully no staff in that school are Union members or expect Union support?

WhoWantsToLiveForever · 20/06/2014 20:52

"Teachers striking is just playing into Gove's hands because it makes Joe Public pissed off with teachers."

I agree with this.

soverylucky · 20/06/2014 20:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MaryWestmacott · 20/06/2014 20:53

OP - a lot of the children will want to go to the fayre so will be still going. Plus do you know what % of your school teachers are NUT?

Agree though, it does need to be a big strike to cause enough pressure to work, not a day here and a day there, a week. 2 weeks. Walking out and not walking back until they get changes. No one really cares about daily strikes.

I know in the early years of my dad's teaching career, they did a 'walk out at lunchtime' industrial action for a couple of weeks, there wasn't enough adults on site to keep the school open for lunch hour, so pupils had to be sent home for lunch. That didn't effect the teaching children had, but the distruption of parents having to pick up their DCs every day was massive - and that was the late 70s where there was a lot more SAHMs, in some schools around here now it'd be a nightmare for working parents and within a fortnight parents would be screaming for a solution to be offered by government...

AndreasVesalius · 20/06/2014 20:56

Lunchtime action was so that teacher's did not have to supervise children in their unpaid lunch break.

shockinglybadteacher · 20/06/2014 20:58

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AndreasVesalius · 20/06/2014 20:59

Apologies for the rogue apostrophe there, unforgivable but it has been a very long week.

ilovesooty · 20/06/2014 21:08

owlbegoing are you sure you'll be getting that fire engine? The FBU are striking that day I believe.

Hulababy · 20/06/2014 21:12

shockinglybadteacher

I think that is really harsh actually. To call someone scum for putting their pupils and parents first in such a situation....

Cancel the trip and who will reimburse the parents? Chances are they wont get a refund from the coach company or the venue of trip at this late stage - and school funds are already stretched.

So I think actually it makes sense to not cancel a school trip when it is booked.

To cancel it is too big - especially if you want to keep parents on your side. There has to be some common sense applied surely?

Amd I talk as someone who is striking that day by the looks of it.

KingJoffreysBloodshotEye · 20/06/2014 21:13

Well done for being utter scum.

Scum?

Because he's taking children on a promised trip?

Hmm

That's the actions of a nice guy.

Luggagecarousel · 20/06/2014 21:13

Shocking, that is a bit harsh! it is the man's decision, and although everyone may want to support the strike, in practice it isn't always possible. In some courses, for example, not working on one day means arranging for the school to stay open on late on three or four other days to catch up with pracs, etc. that may be feasible, or it may not. In other circumstances, households with two part time teachers might simply be unable to afford them both losing a days pay. or, as in this case, a professional decision has been taken.

lets not fight amongst ourselves, we have enough enemies in this world!

TheEnchantedForest · 20/06/2014 21:16

That is a very shortsighted view. They are certainly not putting the pupils first in the long term. What standard of education will those children receive at secondary school if teachers are not prepared to strike now.
I would never prioritise one trip over long term education.

Hulababy · 20/06/2014 21:19

So who pays the parents back for a cancelled trip then EnchantedForest?

NadiaWadia · 20/06/2014 21:21

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PickledPorcupine · 20/06/2014 21:22

Try teaching in a really deprived area where we can't get any (and I mean any!!) teachers! Who would want to work twice as hard to not go up the pay scale because your children have not made enough progress (despite serious home issues, no support, drugs, no food for some, to name a few barriers)?!?!

We are fighting for the future of education and for every child in poverty who needs a fair chance.

rockybalboa · 20/06/2014 21:22

Fucking hell Shockingly, that's a bit harsh!

ilovesooty · 20/06/2014 21:23

What "other action" will they be taking Nadia ?

NadiaWadia · 20/06/2014 21:28

I'm not quite sure, but one thing I know they are all writing individual letters to Gove. One has already gone out and been replied to officially. If I find any more out, I'll let you know.

TheEnchantedForest · 20/06/2014 21:34

Pickledporcupine -I couldn't agree more. naturally, most parents think of their own child so if theirs attends a good school-not much else matters. They worry more about the trip their child might miss out on or the school fete etc.

(many) teachers are thinking about the needs of all children. They all deserve a good education with good teachers and strong leadership. They will not get this if current policies are not stopped.
This is better for society as a whole as well.

Worrying about how the budget will refund one school trip is, in my opinion, incredibly short sighted.