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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think teachers should give notice of strike closure!

246 replies

Geeds · 30/01/2023 12:12

I know teachers need to strike, I know they don’t need to give advanced notices, I know the whole idea is to ‘cause disruption’ but surely they also understand that normal working families need notice if they can’t go to work on a certain date?

The school is emailing saying they will ‘let us know by 8am on Wednesday’ about if school will be open or closed on Wednesday. I get 5 weeks annual leave to cover 13 weeks of school holiday, I don’t want to book a day if they then end up open as this will then eventually cost me money when I have to pay childcare in the holidays as I’m out of annual leave. I also can’t really afford the unpaid leave that I’ll have to take it as, if I don’t book annual leave.

I’m not slating teachers for striking, I understand and support the reasons. But AIBU to think they should give us a bit of notice? The strikes will ‘disrupt’ either way, but not giving notice to families is only going to affect the 30 odd parents in your class who also have their own stresses and money worries.

OP posts:
Busybody2022 · 30/01/2023 12:13

I do agree. Fully support strikes but not giving notice until the day hits the kids hard. I have no idea if my autistic child is in or not with less tha 48 hours to go. There's no need for it.

Slowingdownagain · 30/01/2023 12:14

At our school they have told the head if they are striking or not. Not something they have to do, but they still have which is nice. As you say, striking is meant to be disruptive. If I didn't know either way I would assume that it would be closed.

YellowAndGreenToBeSeen · 30/01/2023 12:15

I’m not a parent with kids in school and even I’ve known about the potential strikes for weeks.

They can’t confirm as they’re still negotiating today to see if they can come to an agreement. It’s been headline news this morning, they are not trying to be obstructive.

NoSquirrels · 30/01/2023 12:15

Our secondary school know which teachers are striking and has made a plan based on that. As you say, it’s unfair not to give notice to parents. I can’t understand why other schools can’t do this.

BigFatLiar · 30/01/2023 12:15

Probably not the teachers but the school wanting to wait and see if they have enough staff turn up to keep the place open.

LimeCheesecake · 30/01/2023 12:16

That’s an odd decision by your dcs school - the primary school dc2 goes to has confirmed they will definitely be open due to knowing they have enough staff who definately wont strike to open. The secondary dc1 is at have gone to online learning and as staff don’t set work if they are striking, first thing (in form time) they’ll be told which lessons to log on for and which ones they are to do independent study for.

other schools round here have either said they will definitely close or only be open for some year groups.

basically, your problem is the heads odd way of handling it, not the teachers.

MelchiorsMistress · 30/01/2023 12:16

Schools cannot tel you what they don’t know. Headteachers will be doing their best to minimise disruption for families and moaning about it doesn’t help.

The strikes wouldn’t be happening if the government would engage but they won’t so blame them.

WineDup · 30/01/2023 12:20

The staff don’t know either - we found out at 3pm the day before the strike whether it would go ahead or not. They are hoping for last minute negotiations. Plus, teachers don’t need to tell the school what union they are in and if they are striking.

Assume the school is closed.

electricmoccasins · 30/01/2023 12:21

Most teachers do tell their school whether they’re striking or not.

BeautyGoesToBenidorm · 30/01/2023 12:22

My DC's schools are part of the same academies trust, we had emails from both last week. The secondary school are striking (except for Y12/13) and the primary is staying open but with some staff being shuffled around.

Luckily I'm on mat leave, or it would've thrown a massive spanner in the works. I fully support the strikes, but that doesn't mean they don't put working parents in an incredibly difficult position. Short-notice childcare is nonexistent where I live and very few parents can afford unpaid time off.

ACynicalDad · 30/01/2023 12:23

Our school notified us that they couldn't make it work and would be shut for all 4 strike days some time ago. I don't think the HT is the enemy and I don't think it will make any difference to the G'ment if they shut at the last minute or in advance. I think they should tell the HT their intention ahead of time.

notea · 30/01/2023 12:23

It seems to depend so much on the school - DD's school confirmed last Wednesday that it would be shut for all but vulnerable children this week. I do understand that the strike may be called off (if negotiations are successful), but I'm not anticipating it....

berksandbeyond · 30/01/2023 12:25

Yep we will also find out on the day whether school will be open or not.
As a working parent it doesn’t make me have much sympathy towards the teachers to be honest!
The people getting screwed over are the kids and working parents, not the education chiefs

roarfeckingroarr · 30/01/2023 12:35

YellowAndGreenToBeSeen · 30/01/2023 12:15

I’m not a parent with kids in school and even I’ve known about the potential strikes for weeks.

They can’t confirm as they’re still negotiating today to see if they can come to an agreement. It’s been headline news this morning, they are not trying to be obstructive.

I mean, they categorically are trying to be obstructive. So long as the teachers are happy though, bugger us parents.

OutForBreakfast · 30/01/2023 12:42

Some teachers may not have decided yet what they are going to do.

Legotiger · 30/01/2023 12:45

I think you’re missing the point. Short term pain, long term gain (hopefully). Best to assume they’ll be closed.

ClassroomRunaway · 30/01/2023 12:46

I don't think that's up to the teachers though. If the school is unsure they should close to give parents time to make childcare arrangements. The teachers don't have to declare anything and the schools hell bent on staying open even if it means an inexperienced random staff member babysitting children all day are the U ones. I used to work for one such school and they were definitely gearing up to get TAs to cover classes which is crap. My DCs' school said it would be closed about a week ago. It's a lot easier for parents if they have some advanced warning and I wouldn't be happy at all if my DCs were at the school I used to work in

steppemum · 30/01/2023 12:48

we had an email nearly 2 weeks ahead of strike
80% of our teachers belong to the striking union.
We don't know exactly who will /will not be striking.
Decision made to close the school for all except year 11 and 13, and they have th eoption to come in/stay home.

There will be online lessons available set by those not striking.

If your child needs to be in school please contact us, and we will try and provide some places.

I ave no idea why any school would wait unitl 8 am on Wednesday. It is ridiculous.

Puddletruck · 30/01/2023 12:49

I can understand a day or 2, but leaving it until 8am when the kids will be in their school uniforms to tell you if it's open seems a bit ridiculous. DD's school let us know on Friday that every class is open except DD's (typical). It's given us time to prepare for Wednesday at least.

I hope you find out soon OP.

BendingSpoons · 30/01/2023 12:50

Our school have said the same. Email at 7.45am. Breakfast club starts at 7.45am, so not sure how that will work. We have been told make back up plans. Fine, but it's frustrating asking my parents to travel to us early in the morning when they might not be needed.

I do understand, but I would like to know the night before to prepare my kids and sort arrangements. But this way causes maximum disruption.

Slowingdownagain · 30/01/2023 12:51

roarfeckingroarr · 30/01/2023 12:35

I mean, they categorically are trying to be obstructive. So long as the teachers are happy though, bugger us parents.

Show quote history

Well the teachers aren't happy, that's why they are striking.

There will always be "victims" of a strike. I guess it depends if you fundamentally agree or disagree with the right to strike.

what's the alternative though? They don't strike, stay miserable and then eventually all the good ones leave or become rubbish due to being unhappy? It's inconvenient (and probably feels worse post covid), but they have no other leverage.

BendingSpoons · 30/01/2023 12:51

steppemum · 30/01/2023 12:48

we had an email nearly 2 weeks ahead of strike
80% of our teachers belong to the striking union.
We don't know exactly who will /will not be striking.
Decision made to close the school for all except year 11 and 13, and they have th eoption to come in/stay home.

There will be online lessons available set by those not striking.

If your child needs to be in school please contact us, and we will try and provide some places.

I ave no idea why any school would wait unitl 8 am on Wednesday. It is ridiculous.

They have been advised by thr unions to wait to cause more disruption!

DogInATent · 30/01/2023 12:53

It's not the National Childcare Service.

Hintofreality · 30/01/2023 12:53

My children leave for school at 7.30am, the bus collects them at 7.40am. To give notice of closure at 8am would be a nightmare for many working families in similar circumstance, children could be e route to school and parents e route to work when the notification comes through.

Fleabigg · 30/01/2023 12:55

It’s because the individual teachers themselves don’t have to let them know until the day whether they’re striking or not, according to union rules. Which is frankly obscene and deserving of a lot more attention.

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