To think teachers should give notice of strike closure!

[Geeds]

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.

Thats not the teachers fault, its the headteacher/school. Our school gave us ovet a weeks nptice they are closing on weds

Precisely.

It's what you prioritise and work out your childcare around. And so if you are going to need additional childcare, a bit of notice is extremely helpful

I had an email on Friday and school is closed apart from year 11 and those with a EHCP.

school isn’t childcare but it’s where your children are expected to be every day, so you plan your life around tha.

The whole point of a strike is for it to be disruptive. To show what effect them not being there would have.

I don't understand what you mean?

Why have some people given notice their teachers are definitely striking?

Why won't teachers find out if they are striking until the day?

IMO, as a teacher, that is outrageous. Our lot were told last week.

There must be a noticeable knock on effect if so many parents in other jobs aren't able to go to work because of late notice by the schools.

Our school emailed at the beginning of last week to say they wont be closing.

Our secondary warned us as soon as the strikes were announced and have confirmed this morning the plan.
although they don’t have to tell their employers the teachers at dcs school and the local primary seem to have taken the view that parents need to plan.

perhaps so parents don’t just dump and run

Teachers themselves don’t have to decide whether they’re going on strike or not until the day of the strike. You’d assume most are going to follow their union but no strikes are compulsory so it’s not a given.

Are no teachers also parents?

Teachers are employed to educate children, not to provide childcare.

Surely this depends on the government. Are they going to offer the teachers what they want?

Of course it's not obscene. What is obscene are the obstructive rules that the Conservatives have introduces to prevent people from exercising their right to strike.

Our school was vague, they said the teachers don't have to tell us which union they are in for striking purposes and that the school is not allowed to ask! My dc at least are older teens, but have been told they must turn up for registration and wait and see what is happening about lesson - otherwise they will have an unauthorised absence mark. It would be easier to say keep them off if you can.

We got told "teachers don't have to tell you in advance if they will strike, you will be updated by 8.25am on the day". No apologies, nothing.

I imagine there are also teachers who are parents of school aged children who may be in different schools too so they will also be trying to make arrangements, if possible

We were told on Friday that school is closed apart from y7. Telling on the day takes the piss imo, of course it's not a childcare service but they would lose my support if I couldn't plan around it.

That’s ridiculous our school is closed to all but y 11 and vulnerable students the rest have to follow timetable and work online.

At least you know the dates. Just arrange a back up plan.

Honestly, the schools close and peoples brain cells just melt away. Never mind the country has gone to rat shit, little Felix couldn't possibly go play at a mates for a few hours. There's generally 2 parents, plus other relatives for each child at the school. Just put your heads together and sort something out.

"Obscene" 🤣🤣🤣 have a word with yourself.

That sounds very frustrating for you and I’m sorry it’s happening this way at your particular school. All the schools round here have notified parents in advance - though teachers don’t have to give notice of striking, they appreciate it is not their headteacher / school or parents that’s the issue and want to make the process as easy as possible from their pov.

You could take the day off and decide to keep them off school regardless if you want certainty i guess?

Schools who have given parents assurances they will stay open or partially open are taking a risk. They aren't allowed to ask staff if they are planning to strike so will have based thier decision on how many staff they know to be in the NEU, and the fact that some teachers will have taken a personal decision to tell the Head whether or not they plan to strike. This is not necessarily accurate though as sometimes staff who were not planning to strike change their minds, some staff may not have declared that they are in the NEU but may still be intending to strike. My DD's school has said that they are planning to open but this could change and they may not know until the morning so parents should have a back up plan.

It's not the National Childcare Service.

I entirely agree with this statement but I also understand that most parents will either need to take time off work or somehow organise childcare for the strike day. This can’t be done at 10 minutes’ notice.

The thing that makes it particularly difficult is that if school IS open on Wednesday it is mandatory that they be there so you can’t even make other firm plans.

It’s also detrimental to children with ASD, many of whom cope with the day ahead by going through the timetable for the day. Last minute changes are very unsettling.

It’s not the fact schools will be closed that poses the biggest problem it’s the fact that parents don’t know what we’re planning for.

I understand the school might not know but like the train strikes I think parents/children should be notified as they need to make alternative arrangements - I believe there is a moral obligation to inform the school and therefore parents.

We know which years are definitely in (all my kids) as I guess that's Union based. I'm assuming they'll keep negotiating to the end so can't actually tell parents of the other classes will be out.
Imagine they say yes, you book it and then they tell you at 8 am oh its sorted, come in or it's sorted but hey, half the school can just have a fun day off