Does anyone NOT support teachers’ strikes?

[Notbeinggoadybut]

I’ve got mixed views. Support that they, as all public sector workers, need a pay rise. And schools need more funding (but the NEU hasn’t badged this as a public reason which is a mistake IMP).

But 12% is a lot when you’re on a £40k salary. The TA’s deserve 12%, the nurses and ambulance drivers with dire conditions and worse salaries deserve 12%. But not from a starting salary of £40k.

Also public services can be dire. I work in one, it can be bordering on a joke and in so many ways such a waste of money. I will be striking on the 1st of February. But I don’t think it’s right - I voted against the strike. I want a pay rise, but don’t feel like it’s right to ask for 10% and strike if I don’t get it.

I’ve always thought that public sector workers should be given the option of a big pay rise as long as they leave the pension scheme and accept a 5%-10% contribution to a money purchase plan instead which is what private sector workers have to do. Bit like a flexible benefits package. I’m not sure why Defined Benefit schemes still exist at all given that most companies have now done away with them.

You did say exactly that.
Paragraph 2. Last sentence.

Are you a teacher? If yes then you join the union you want and take action if you can / want to. If you are not a teacher, then who cares if you agree or don't agree. People have a right to take action. Presumably they believe they deserve a pay rise. That is their right.

New name?
Lying about teachers' start pay?

Yes, you ^are being goady.

I support their right to strike but I am saddened that this will be disrupting children’s education again after all the disruption through COVID. I don’t think the country can afford the pay rises for teachers, nurses, paramedics etc. I absolutely believe something needs to be done about work loads though. The amount my child’s teacher does is phenomenal…and that’s only the things I see, doubtless theirs far more behind the scenes.

You actually did state 'starting salary' in your first post...

A big issue with funding particularly in London is due to the ageing population & low birth rates there are going to be quite a few surplus places in schools due to falling rolls & funding is based on numbers. That's pretty concerning.

I have no idea why I said starting salary - it’s not what I meant so sorry about that. I know it’s not a starting salary, it’s similar to mine which started at £26k (civil service,
not teacher).

There is theoretical automatic pay progression annually for 6 years. Then every two for 6. Then that's it.
But you have to "pass" your appraisal and there are very many ways in which schools ensure that can't happen.

I read your OP as you saying starting salary of 40k!!

Teachers jobs are no longer secure. Trusts are getting rid of staff and more and more appointing unqualified people to teach. Teaching on the cheap. Once you reach upper pay scale you can't move school as you are too expensive.

We need to strike about conditions. There is no money in schools, no support staff and if we want glue sticks and pencils we pay for them ourselves 🤷🏼‍♀️

Because, in spite of your user name, you were being goady.
But don't let the truth get in your way.

In practice, automatic pay progression was removed almost a decade ago and schools advertise a post at any point on the scale that they can justify.

You have to hit targets don't you as opposed to it just being automatic?

Civil service are striking on 1st feb, do you support that op seeing as you work there ?

@Notbeinggoadybut The automatic moving up the payscales no longer exists for teachers. Once you get to the top of the main payscale, generally after 6 ish years, you can apply but there's no guarantee that the school will have the money to allow you to access the higher payscale, even once you've jumped through all the hoops to prove you deserve the extra money. Many academies do their own thing entirely, in addition.

No, I don't support it at all. I think the salary demand is too high. Those of us in the private sector will get nowhere near that.

the 5% most got from September had to come from school budgets with no further funding from Government.

yes this was wrong particularly with the higher energy bills.

I think it’s pretty bad and I don’t think they deserve a pay rise anywhere near what they are demanding. Most public sector workers gave received around a 5% pay rise.

Teaching Assistants do so much hard work and earn nowhere near what teachers do. I also think it’s awful that they are striking at a time when lots of kids are doing their prelims.

I don’t support them at all.

DS is nearly 26 and earns just under £39k in the finance sector (three years relevant experience, no degree).
I earned £43k as my final salary as a teacher before taking early retirement (33 years’ service, not using my teachers’ pension in retirement).

Which would you say is wrong, then - is DS’s salary too high or was mine too low?

The fact that DS’s salary means he’s been able to buy a flat is surely what we should be expecting for our young people? Why do we accept that low wages are the norm in this country?!

How would you know unless you are a teacher?

In my school (primary), NQT's are on £24k. I don't think anyone earns over £35 except for SLT. Out of this, teachers are now paying for classroom resources as there's never anything in the school. We've been told to try not to use paper unless we have to, as the cost of paper has gone up.

The impoverished education your children get every day is the real issue, not a few days out.

@MrWhippersnapper I’ve said upthread that no I don’t support it, but yes I will be striking in solidarity with the union, because if I don’t, what’s the point of being in the union. I voted against the strike though as they are asking for 10% which I do feel is a bit steep. If it was asking for 5% or maybe a bit more, I would be much more supportive, as 2% is going to make bigger all difference to me. I’ve been at the top of my pay scale for decades so I’ve been getting bugger all for a long time.

Notbeinggoadybut · Today 20:33
Do teachers not automatically move up the pay scale like in other public services? If not apologies, that was what I thought and meant by £40k.

No, teachers do not automatically move up the pay scale. A school can advertise for a M2 teacher and that is what they pay. Rises don’t automatically happen every year, even if appraisal targets are met. If the school can’t afford the rise it doesn’t have to happen.

It’s almost like… disruption is the entire point of the strike! 💡

They are only allowed to strike over pay and conditions. Most teachers I know are doing it for reasons other than pay.