Don't want to join the teaching strike

[SweetRascal]

I'm a primary school teacher of 12 years and with the NEU. For my own reasons, I don't want to vote yes to striking but will this be judged negatively by other teachers? I just don't feel comfortable with the disruption it causes.

What have you found to be the most effective thing you’ve spent your time on?

Conditions for pupils are no longer acceptable (as well as conditions for teachers). You not striking for one day today to protect disruption overlooks the massive disruption caused by classes having no full time teacher because they cannot afford it or schools closing early on Fridays to minimise fuel costs. Or classes having teachers who can work to a higher standard because they aren’t worried about paying bills or being over stretched. Your very argument that strikes cause disruption is so short sighted.

I would judge you for lack of bigger picture thinking and thinking one day disruption is worse than continuing with unfavourable conditions for pupils long term.

In this thread...

OP: "I'm a member of the NEU and don't want to strike"

Posters: "You're a hypocrite and a scab, join a non-striking union then"

OP: "Okay, I will join a non-striking union"

Posters: "You're still a hypocrite and a scab"

Gross simplification.

I for one have acknowledged that the OP is leaving the NEU and joining Edapt, which I'm sure will meet her needs as she is not interested in union activity. I personally think her attitude is short sighted but at least her planned approach is consistent with her beliefs.

Why the fuck do people join a union if they're not prepared to be united? This is the problem with a de-politicised workforce. They want the protections of a union, but not meet it's responsibilities. It's all me-me-me.

I despair.

You can vote however you want, it's a secret ballot. Depends on how strongly you feel about your pay & conditions whether you decide to strike or not.

The huge issue just now is that nobody is getting a decent pay rise. Individual professions striking isn't changing the fact there's a huge problem. And each time minimum wage is increased, more and more jobs are becoming devalued and getting closer to minimum wage levels

If teachers do strike, do they leave cover work?!
I'm the poor sod who will be covering absences.
I take home a maximum of 1200 pounds a month after tax for doing so.

I feel the same as you but that's how so many people are these days - since Thatcher anyway.

I've been a union member all my working life,and I have retained my membership though I'm now self employed. I'm actually a member of two unions and I'm saddened by how uninformed so many people are about union membership.

They're not obligated to leave cover work. Are you a regular member of staff or supply?

People should have the right to hold true to their beliefs, even if those beliefs are not believed worthy by MN standards.

I won’t be striking.

I said similar about the effect of Thatcher and was shot down in flames by some 'I have my own mind' selfish PP up thread.

Sequins of course we don't bloody leave cover work!! The whole point is disruption FFS! I have no idea what job role you have, but here in Scotland the schools are closing on strike days- quite, bloody rightly.

Regular cover supervisor. QTS.

I have no idea what this is, it doesn't exist in Scotland. Are you a teacher?

Schools will close, people shouldn't be covering for striking teachers.

I am a teacher but I do a support role covering staff absence across the curriculum. In other words, I am a cut-price substitute teacher but permanently employed directly by the school.
I am part of a union as I work directly with kids and because I am part-time, I sometimes do supply. I did not get a ballot paper though as supply staff don't (the pay dispute is not with the agency although that is another thread in itself) and I guess the Cover Role is also not covered (they are getting back to me on this as it may turn out that I am meant to be in Unison as well as NASUWT).

Schools will close, people shouldn't be covering for striking teachers.
It will be interesting to see if this happens. I have not been told of plans but we have always remained open, even when short-staffed (teachers used for cover then paid back their PPA later, doubling up of classes, myself and other cover teacher on all lessons that day).

No union member should be doing work that would normally be done by a member of another union who is out on strike.
No person about to strike should "leave work" for classes or they are breaking the strike.

No. We won't be setting cover.

You should refuse to cover for a striking teacher. Heads shouldn't be asking and besides Headteachers are balloting for their own strike action so may be joining us.

I kind of wonder what beliefs hold people from striking, but make them accept a pay rise if we get it?

Thats a bit like saying that if you didn’t vote for a particular political party you shouldn’t accept an increase in minimum wage (for example) or change to working hours.

If teachers pay does go up then that’s good. It’s the strike I’m not supportive of.

Well no it's nothing like that because a strike isn't like a vote. It's willingly losing pay in order to strengthen a bargaining position. Anyone can vote for more pay, that's easy.

Striking is workers refusing to work unless conditions improve.

You should change unions. The NEU probably isn’t the right one for you.

So how should one go about declining the pay rise?

You can’t, can you? You can vote for or against but if teachers choose to strike and pay rises are awarded accordingly (I don’t think they will but willing to be proved wrong) there isn’t an option to say ‘no thanks.’