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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To wonder why teachers aren’t striking?

31 replies

Redwineistasty · 12/02/2018 19:08

Please excuse my ignorance, I’m sure there’s a reason why they’re not striking.

But they have very well established unions and really shit working conditions.

OP posts:

Dolphincrossing · 12/02/2018 19:10

About what in particular?

Queuejumper · 12/02/2018 19:11

They did last year didn't they?

hoopdeloop · 12/02/2018 19:11

In Scotland it’s looking likely that we will end up striking during the next academic year

chocolateworshipper · 12/02/2018 19:11

A lot of them have given up and are leaving the profession instead.

JustTerfingAlong1 · 12/02/2018 19:12

Because striking just hurts the people they are there for - the students...

... Pisses off the people with the voting power - the parents

... Just makes the politicians more determined to "break" the skiving, don't know what hard work is, bunch of slacking incompetent skivers.

IMHO anyway.

LemonRedwood · 12/02/2018 19:12

The strikes in recent years have had none of the desired impact whatsoever.

PinkAvocado · 12/02/2018 19:14

I think teachers are as likely to leave now as stand and fight.

Tinkerbec · 12/02/2018 19:15

Nobody can afford to lose £100 plus a day and y11 suffer.

Thisusernamethingistricky · 12/02/2018 19:15

I think teachers have pretty much given up striking now and are just leaving the profession full stop.

JustTerfingAlong1 · 12/02/2018 19:16

Yeah I'm an ex teacher who has given up on unions and striking. Am retraining as an accountant instead

greathat · 12/02/2018 19:22

Leaving the profession in droves instead... if I worked full time I'd have gone already. As it is I work full time but am paid 3 days...

manicinsomniac · 12/02/2018 19:26

I don't agree with striking. It doesn't hurt the right people and it's a pain in the arse to try and rearrange whatever was planned for that day.

ilovesooty · 12/02/2018 19:32

Teachers would be more effective taking industrial action if they mobilised into one union.

As it is you have teachers who won't join a union, teachers who are in different unions, teachers who won't go along with strike action etc etc.

Yes, they're leaving in droves.

misskatamari · 12/02/2018 19:36

Another one who's left here too. It makes me sad, the state of education today. I loved actually teaching but all the endless crap that now goes with it is soul destroying

Original poster

Redwineistasty · 12/02/2018 19:37

Thanks, that all answers my question.

I’m starting my pgce in sept and constantly hear don’t do it all over the place online and in work (I work in education). It doesn’t stop me going ahead with it but it does make me worry about my own dc’s education.

I do understand that striking won’t help their education, but neither will an inheaval of teachers each year.

OP posts:

blankpieceofpaper · 12/02/2018 19:39

We tried striking.

Lots of us (including me) are now leaving instead.

GetOutOfMYGarden · 12/02/2018 19:39

Because it doesn't disrupt enough to get results, and just harms their year 11 students.

DakotaFanny · 12/02/2018 19:41

The big unions need to get together to make any real impact.

BoneyBackJefferson · 12/02/2018 19:47

Because we can't strike about the things that matter.
Because the government and media have successfully portrait teachers as work shy scum.
Because of the continued idiotic responses of some people.

Oh and because if we strike we are moaners.
If we don't strike we are moaners.

And whatever happens its the teachers fault because some people can't see the bigger picture and are fucking thick

Appuskidu · 12/02/2018 19:49

I have always gone on strike over the years, whenever my union has.

It hasn’t ever made a blind bit of difference really (though I still would strike). The press use it against us lazy work-shy teachers and the politicians do too.

Sadly, there’s plenty of people on mumsnet who have loudly objected during teacher strikes, too-and it usually ends up with accusations of teachers not ‘living in the real world’ and how we should accept working hard like everyone else.

I’m leaving-20 years is enough for me. I honestly would recommend anyone do a pgce at the moment.

worridmum · 12/02/2018 20:06

remember good education should go to the people that can afford to pay it the majority of the people that have been put in charge of the State schools all went to private schools (ok not all but the vast majority of them).

The UK and the USA treat teachers so poorly in comparison to most other countries, the amount of extra hours teachers have to work for free is insane even the best teachers at time management are working in excess of 10+ hours a week for free its bloody insane the people rush to the bottom oh we have to work some many hours for free so should everyone else and teachers are just moaning and should move to the real world etc

While the people in power / big employers all clap their hands in glee as they get sooooo many extra hours form their workers without having to pay them anything its disgraceful.

BG2015 · 12/02/2018 20:18

Striking affects everyone, kids, teachers and parents and doesn’t make any difference.

A fellow teacher also recently told me that striking results in your pension being less! I don’t know if this is true?

I’ve been teaching for 22 years and I’m bloody knackered. I have 11 years to go before retirement, if I last that long.

Fed up of spending all Sunday working not to mention at least an hour at home every night. But nothing will ever change.

ilovesooty · 12/02/2018 20:23

I earn a load less than I earned in teaching but have never regretted getting out.

WoodenRainbow · 12/02/2018 20:24

Yup agree with others here. Striking does nothing except make more people hate us. It has done fuck all for our working conditions and we’ve continued to be shit on from a great height. We’re leaving instead. I’m gone at the end of the year. 10 years worth of experience; I’m a passionate, hard working, dynamic teacher but I am so done with not being trusted to do my job and to have to justify every tiny decision I make.

MaisyPops · 12/02/2018 20:25

Because striking solves nothing sadly and instead of support from parents, there's always some jn the press talking about how inconvenient it was their 15 year old had to be at home.
And then someone brings up the holidays for a dig.

We are only allowed to strike for certain issues so it has to be reported as such but the reality we think:

exam reform shouldn't be rushed
that students should have a qualified teacher in front of them
that elements of gcse shouldn't be changed 12 weeks befor exams (yes old english spec I mean you)
that schools should be properly funded
that CAMHS should be funded and studnets have access to specialist servives instead of well meaning but inexperienced teaching/pastoral staff
we shouldn't keep having real terms cuts in
national pay scales should be
pay portability should be
a reasonable pension scheme (My DH earns less than me and has a bigger takehome pay because my pension contributions are so much higher than his. He also gets a better return)

And more.

But personally, I'd just leave teaching when the time comes.

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