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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Mumandteacher60 · 22/01/2023 19:40

I'm a primary school teacher of 12 years and with the NEU and don’t want to strike

I have primary teacher colleagues in just same situation and will be changing unions, and it is your choice - they have left the NEU and joined another union because they don’t want to strike.
It has to be your choice and go with the teachers union that suits you best. 😊

Getinajollymood · 22/01/2023 20:11

You cannot default on your mortgage, you are right.

Childcare is the biggie for me, I can’t just not pay it because we have to give six weeks notice for any change of circumstances, so it isn’t as if I could decide not to send DS one day and not pay! Then there are things that probably are luxury items but I’m still committed to paying for - gym membership and the like. I imagine most people are the same and that’s where it’s hard. One day most of us could take but three is a lot, and especially if you are on your own and reliant on one income it’s going to hit hard.

Don’t feel bad @AFunnyFeeling . You can’t lose your home over it, that’s a step too far, I’d hope most would agree.

Lovinmyblanket · 22/01/2023 20:31

Just strike for the first day if you're struggling financially to do them all. Make a big splash and there might be an improved offer.

KimberlyHyde · 25/01/2023 17:58

I'm sure your colleagues will lose a lot of sleep over you not seeing them in the same light ever again.

KimberlyHyde · 25/01/2023 18:01

"I think you are right to feel guilt. You are in a union for the security and benefits it affords, yet will not accept the results of the ballot or act on their direction."

The security and benefits that you have to pay for. For those judgemental creeps out there: let's not forget that people pay a lot of money to be part of the union and the biggest reason is the legal guidance they provide you. I think we are all forgetting that unions are not free.

KimberlyHyde · 25/01/2023 18:05

Agreed!

DeanJuvenal · 25/01/2023 22:41

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somoslagente · 26/01/2023 21:32

they shouldnt know how you have voted either way.

i think that you are educated enough to know that unions were not set up to be divisive,

so.. if you dont want to be a sheep then don't be - good luck to you!

MzAbena · 26/02/2023 18:31

Hiya, I also am facing/faced a backlash from a colleague who asked why I didn't strike the week before and proceeded, (though unprovoked), to attack me about caring for the money (as a supply teacher). She said meanwhile her strikes will benefit me🙄.

She was so nasty it was shocking to witness. I wished there was a camera in the room at one point.

Saying I am insulting her intelligence when asked if I therefore don't support teachers on strike despite my calm tone saying I did. It was strange, got so tensed and was very angry. She'd proceeded to also as usual gossiped with others including TAs about it.

You get the very cold atmosphere when you enter into a space with all but as rightly put, I am not loosing friends and I will not be justifying to anyone, especially,ones who have absolutely no input in my life how I should make choices or live it.

I have no very good reasons and that's that. Understand or get out of my way. It's unfortunate when adults act like children. Very unprofessional indeed. .

Aside of all my reasons,your salary calculations and paid half terms aren't applicable to me as an agency. I find it insane really. I was warned to better make the next coming strikes. I won't be. Get chilly as you like

MzAbena · 26/02/2023 18:32

Hiya, I also am facing/faced a backlash from a colleague who asked why I didn't strike the week before and proceeded, (though unprovoked), to attack me about caring for the money (as a supply teacher). She said meanwhile her strikes will benefit me🙄.

She was so nasty it was shocking to witness. I wished there was a camera in the room at one point.

Saying I am insulting her intelligence when asked if I therefore don't support teachers on strike despite my calm tone saying I did. It was strange, got so tensed and was very angry. She'd proceeded to also as usual gossiped with others including TAs about it.

You get the very cold atmosphere when you enter into a space with all but as rightly put, I am not loosing friends and I will not be justifying to anyone, especially,ones who have absolutely no input in my life how I should make choices or live it.

I have no very good reasons and that's that. Understand or get out of my way. It's unfortunate when adults act like children. Very unprofessional indeed. .

Aside of all my reasons,your salary calculations and paid half terms aren't applicable to me as an agency. I find it insane really. I was warned to better make the next coming strikes. I won't be. Get chilly as you like

noblegiraffe · 26/02/2023 18:37

I thought supply teachers weren't included in the current strike action as they are employed by agencies?

MzAbena · 26/02/2023 18:40

Ah, I guessed this too. She has no clue how supply works because she's never done in yet bleeting out a lot.

supersop60 · 26/02/2023 18:47

When I was a teacher in the 80s there were exactly the same arguments among teachers.
If you don't want to strike, then don't.
If you support the reasons for the strike, you could offer a day's pay instead. Some of my former colleagues did this back then.

gawditswindy · 26/02/2023 21:47

If teachers win a better pay increase, it will benefit ALL teachers.

HTH

montysma1 · 26/02/2023 22:33

Will you accept the pay rise gained by striking colleagues?

Noodledoodledoo · 26/02/2023 22:43

montysma1 · 26/02/2023 22:33

Will you accept the pay rise gained by striking colleagues?

I get this sentiment but how do you apply this when other unions aren't striking. I agree if your union votes to strike - you strike, but if a payrise is awarded is it only for neu members? How will that work? My union didn't get enough votes to strike.

TheMoth · 26/02/2023 23:10

I changed unions. It didn't feel right to possibly gain from others' hardships. Been nas all my working life, but I couldn't trot into work, knowing colleagues were taking the hit

SequinsandStilettos · 27/02/2023 06:47

Supply teachers are not striking per union guidelines as their gripe re pay is with agencies not government. They can ally if they wish to personally by not accepting work that day but as far as the NASUWT for example went, supply did not get a voting ballot.

FranBrill · 16/03/2023 08:29

I hate this 'change unions then' attitude. I'm in the NEU and I refuse to strike. I'm in the union to protect myself and I'm not willing to loose, what would be now, three days pay. I'm not a political person anyway. I come into work, do a good job, work hard, do plenty of afterschool activities and go home. A good friend of mine at a different school has exactly the same attitude. When that plastic wrapped newsletter comes in the post it goes straight in the bin. These two days have been great opportunities to get work completed. If we get a raise, great. If not, so be it but I feel it would be disingenuous to strike when I'm not invested in the cause. As for the funding argument (school trips, equipment etc) I've never had an issue with this. You can just simply get on with reaching you know and not be moaning on about 'consecutive Tory governments destroying education' all the time. Yawn.

ilovesooty · 16/03/2023 08:35

I'm in the union to protect myself

Says it all really. You have no idea what a union is. I'm glad I'm no longer teaching and having to work alongside people like that.