Not a strike = no vote needed. Simple.
All workers have the same right to refuse to work in an environment that is unsafe. NEU has advised its members (bearing in mind it is addressing the majority here) that they have this right if they feel unsafe. Up to individuals whether or not to act on them.
Re independent school - could be as simple as the risk assessment from Sept has not been updated to cover the increased transmission of the new variant. Also, if SAGE advised that schools should be closed (22nd Dec) then surely that's relevant? How do you know staff have decided to down tools rather than head deciding to avoid personal liability if someone gets severely ill when assessment and mitigation measures have not been reassessed?
Some other thoughts:
Team of volunteer parents = more people on site mixing with children and staff, even if socially distanced. Can ch swab themselves accurately, effectively and safely? Will some refuse? Will some become distressed and need comforting, so close contacts? Have all volunteers been tested?
Tests...proved to be no more than 3% to 50% effective at picking up positives, depending on which study you look at. So half of ch will be mixing freely, not self-isolating, and potentially symptomatic. 98% accuracy being touted around means 98% of positive results are actually positive, not that it picks up 98% of cases.
Do all ch and staff wear masks all the time?
What are policies for social distancing between children and staff, and children within a bubble?
What are policies on marking? Are teachers expected to physically mark, so handling paper touched by children?
What about wrap around care? Siblings in different bubbles? Extra-curricular clubs?
Do some members of staff move across bubbles, as was allowed in Sept?
Do staff stay teaching from the front or move around to help? Are there plastic screens between students and other students, or around the teaching space?
Toilets - does someone wipe handles, sink etc after every child? Same for other touch points.
Lots to think about.