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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Don't want to join the teaching strike

464 replies

SweetRascal · 05/01/2023 19:17

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.

OP posts:
Spicyveggie · 07/01/2023 19:26

I thought PPA was part of the task agreement? I don’t think that was achieved by strike action but willing to be corrected - just before my time. I remember it was all over the TES in my training year Smile

Lunch time duties was way back in the 80s. Things were very different then.

Pumperthepumper · 07/01/2023 19:31

Spicyveggie · 07/01/2023 19:26

I thought PPA was part of the task agreement? I don’t think that was achieved by strike action but willing to be corrected - just before my time. I remember it was all over the TES in my training year Smile

Lunch time duties was way back in the 80s. Things were very different then.

What do you think is a better way to force change @Spicyveggie?

Spicyveggie · 07/01/2023 19:34

No idea. That’s why I’m in teaching, not politics. I am fairly certain the strike (assuming it goes ahead) will not achieve what it wants to achieve, though.

A change in government will doubtless bring about change in education and some of those changes will hopefully be positive - not all will be.

lbnblbnb · 07/01/2023 19:34

Spicyveggie · 07/01/2023 19:26

I thought PPA was part of the task agreement? I don’t think that was achieved by strike action but willing to be corrected - just before my time. I remember it was all over the TES in my training year Smile

Lunch time duties was way back in the 80s. Things were very different then.

The strike action in the 80s (when I was at school) was about lunch duties etc. Directed time, PPA etc was fought for. Not just given.

Pumperthepumper · 07/01/2023 19:34

Spicyveggie · 07/01/2023 19:34

No idea. That’s why I’m in teaching, not politics. I am fairly certain the strike (assuming it goes ahead) will not achieve what it wants to achieve, though.

A change in government will doubtless bring about change in education and some of those changes will hopefully be positive - not all will be.

Ah ok. Guess the strike is worth a go regardless.

InsomniacVampire · 07/01/2023 19:35

Spicyveggie · 07/01/2023 16:37

If the strike achieves what we want it to then I will come back and eat humble pie Smile

But I don’t think it will.

So yeah, in the meantime, easier to do f.. all and do nothing and hope for the best, right? 😂
If this approach of you works, I'll eat my words, in the meantime, I'll strike.

Spicyveggie · 07/01/2023 19:38

Or do something that will create more ill will, achieve nothing but hey - we can say we did something?

Because that’s what you’re honestly asking me to do. I believe there are problems in education but I also don’t think there’s been a time there haven’t been problems in education. Strikes don’t tend to solve them, and as identified above, given we can only strike about pay and that doesn’t seem to be what most of us are complaining about, that makes it all the more futile.

Pumperthepumper · 07/01/2023 19:39

Spicyveggie · 07/01/2023 19:38

Or do something that will create more ill will, achieve nothing but hey - we can say we did something?

Because that’s what you’re honestly asking me to do. I believe there are problems in education but I also don’t think there’s been a time there haven’t been problems in education. Strikes don’t tend to solve them, and as identified above, given we can only strike about pay and that doesn’t seem to be what most of us are complaining about, that makes it all the more futile.

Ill will where? And what’s the end result of that ill will?

Spicyveggie · 07/01/2023 19:42

From the general public, primarily. This has always been my feelings with strikes: they don’t actually cause any problems for the people we want to take notice (the government) but do create a nuisance for parents, which often (not always) doesn’t go down well, and for many, the perception is that we were taking the piss over covid as it was. Obviously, I’m not saying this perception is true or even fair but my feeling is that we aren’t going to come out of it well. And to be frank here I don’t trust the unions to support their members when they need it.

Pumperthepumper · 07/01/2023 19:43

Spicyveggie · 07/01/2023 19:42

From the general public, primarily. This has always been my feelings with strikes: they don’t actually cause any problems for the people we want to take notice (the government) but do create a nuisance for parents, which often (not always) doesn’t go down well, and for many, the perception is that we were taking the piss over covid as it was. Obviously, I’m not saying this perception is true or even fair but my feeling is that we aren’t going to come out of it well. And to be frank here I don’t trust the unions to support their members when they need it.

But what’s the issue with ill will from the public? Why does that matter?

InsomniacVampire · 07/01/2023 19:43

Spicyveggie · 07/01/2023 19:38

Or do something that will create more ill will, achieve nothing but hey - we can say we did something?

Because that’s what you’re honestly asking me to do. I believe there are problems in education but I also don’t think there’s been a time there haven’t been problems in education. Strikes don’t tend to solve them, and as identified above, given we can only strike about pay and that doesn’t seem to be what most of us are complaining about, that makes it all the more futile.

Ill will has been demonstrated from the side of the govermnet for years. I don't care if Rishi Sunak dislikes me because I go on strike. He does not care much for us really.
Your artitude is that of complacency, just sitting on your bum, unless you have a magical ways for getting our point across in a different way? Remember, strike IS the last thing people wanted, and it's been brewing for YEARS. What has the govermnent done to create good will form our side, aside for cuts? Nothing.
There have always been problem, sure, but unprecendented shortage of teachers is a very new things, you have to be blind (or extremely naive, ot just very wealthy not to have to care about what is happening with the profession) not to see it.

Spicyveggie · 07/01/2023 19:47

It matters because we need them on side. If the perception is that teachers (or nurses, or whoever) are lazy and work shy then the government are quite happy - they don’t have to give us what we want. If the perception is one of outraged injustice they are more likely to back down.

@InsomniacVampire i genuinely hope the strike works, I just can’t ignore my belief that it will not, hence I can’t support it. We can’t be part of something we are against, which works against as well as in favour.

Pumperthepumper · 07/01/2023 19:52

Spicyveggie · 07/01/2023 19:47

It matters because we need them on side. If the perception is that teachers (or nurses, or whoever) are lazy and work shy then the government are quite happy - they don’t have to give us what we want. If the perception is one of outraged injustice they are more likely to back down.

@InsomniacVampire i genuinely hope the strike works, I just can’t ignore my belief that it will not, hence I can’t support it. We can’t be part of something we are against, which works against as well as in favour.

No, we don’t need them onside. They need us to do our jobs, and we’re currently leaving those jobs in droves. Being too scared of parents’ reactions will change absolutely nothing.

ilovesooty · 07/01/2023 19:56

Those teachers who took industrial action in the 80s are the reason you have a right to a lunch break.

Things are very different now Apparently they are. The profession appears to have apathetic teachers who aren't prepared to fight for decent pay and conditions because parents might be a bit cross.

Doesn't the crisis in recruitment and retention tell you anything?

Spicyveggie · 07/01/2023 20:00

It isn’t about being scared, @Pumperthepumper - I am fairly sure that they aren’t going to beat me up after school, it is simply about the fact that if a strike is going to work it has to have public support for it.

@ilovesooty but that was forty years ago. Has there been a successful teachers’ strike since? I don’t think there has been, has there? Teaching unions have no power, and the government know it.

Pumperthepumper · 07/01/2023 20:12

Spicyveggie · 07/01/2023 20:00

It isn’t about being scared, @Pumperthepumper - I am fairly sure that they aren’t going to beat me up after school, it is simply about the fact that if a strike is going to work it has to have public support for it.

@ilovesooty but that was forty years ago. Has there been a successful teachers’ strike since? I don’t think there has been, has there? Teaching unions have no power, and the government know it.

No, you’re saying we shouldn’t strike in case we upset the general public. I’m saying it doesn’t matter if they’re upset - they will be more upset when schools are closing because there aren’t enough teachers. Or when the maximum class size is suddenly forty, because there aren’t enough staff to go round. Or when we start seeing discrimination laws ripped up because there isn’t enough funding for schools to provide inclusive access.

The general public will never, ever be supportive of teaching as a profession because they think we start work at 9, babysit a bit until 3, then go off to enjoy long holidays. If you’re waiting for the general public to improve the profession you’ll be waiting a really, really long time.

Spicyveggie · 07/01/2023 20:16

No, I’m clearly saying that is a strike is going to work, it needs to be supported by the public at large.

I hope it goes well for you and it achieves what you want it to, but I don’t believe it will hence I won’t be supporting it.

Pumperthepumper · 07/01/2023 20:20

Spicyveggie · 07/01/2023 20:16

No, I’m clearly saying that is a strike is going to work, it needs to be supported by the public at large.

I hope it goes well for you and it achieves what you want it to, but I don’t believe it will hence I won’t be supporting it.

No, you’re saying we need to be careful not to cause ‘ill will’ ie do nothing. And you can’t suggest anything else because you’re ‘not a politician’.

What would you support?

Spicyveggie · 07/01/2023 20:25

We have a different view, like I say, I hope that the strike achieves what you want it to. My belief is that it won’t.

ilovesooty · 07/01/2023 20:29

Spicyveggie · 07/01/2023 20:25

We have a different view, like I say, I hope that the strike achieves what you want it to. My belief is that it won’t.

So how should the recruitment and retention crisis be addressed then?

Zombiemum1946 · 07/01/2023 20:30

My dh is a teacher and has chosen to strike but some colleagues have not. Respect for choice should be given regardless.

Pumperthepumper · 07/01/2023 20:31

Spicyveggie · 07/01/2023 20:25

We have a different view, like I say, I hope that the strike achieves what you want it to. My belief is that it won’t.

But you also can’t suggest anything else.

Spicyveggie · 07/01/2023 20:36

I don’t think I’ve ever worked in teaching when there hasn’t been a R & R crisis, @ilovesooty . Either way, if the strike is not really about pay, then pay won’t solve the crisis.

Pumperthepumper · 07/01/2023 20:40

Spicyveggie · 07/01/2023 20:36

I don’t think I’ve ever worked in teaching when there hasn’t been a R & R crisis, @ilovesooty . Either way, if the strike is not really about pay, then pay won’t solve the crisis.

So ignore this one? Even though this one also comes with decades of funding cuts, an increased number of SEN kids being forced into mainstream and specialist provision being cut to the bone?

noblegiraffe · 07/01/2023 20:40

No, I’m clearly saying that is a strike is going to work, it needs to be supported by the public at large.

And yet, if I recall correctly, you have previously tried to convince me that there wasn't any point in starting threads on MN letting parents know what was going on in schools.

Swipe left for the next trending thread