Today we strike

[Perfect28]

Aibu to ask you to support all striking workers today? Please do, however you can.

If your 15 year old niece lacks the independence to be able to do a bit of self-supported revision today, then she needs to have some serious conversations with herself. My Year 11 child has heaps of stuff she’s happily revising today.

Covid was not the fault of the teachers, lockdown was not the fault of the teachers, if she’s year 11 she can do revision

I’m on strike too. Solidarity ✊🏻

My Y11 asked about the strikes and I asked them if they were happy about the state of the school and their teachers and they started talking about how the school was falling apart, how they hadn’t had a proper English teacher since September, loads of supply teachers in other subjects etc etc.

They can see what’s happening to education because they’re living it.

So many valid points here.

I've always been in support of all strikes but just in my head really. I've read a few replies on here on how to actually help. Thanks

Oh right, so those of us in the private sector just have to suck it up, but public sector employees can all have pay rises because they won't impact inflation as much?
I don't support the strikes. Any of them. I've never agreed with it for any sector. Its the equivalent of a child stamping its feet and refusing to put its coat on because you've said they can't have another snack.

I do think education should be better funded, and that's on all of us to write to our MPs/vote differently to make that change happen. Further disrupting children's education, putting people's lives at risk etc. is not the answer.

Solidarity 👍.

Oh right, so those of us in the private sector just have to suck it up, but public sector employees can all have pay rises because they won't impact inflation as much?

The private sector doesn’t seem to be ‘sucking it up’ as much as the public sector.

If you are in the private sector and do not recognise that graph, then unionise like the Amazon workers are doing.

Threaten strike action like BT workers did, or Stagecoach drivers, or Fox’s Biscuits factory workers did before Christmas, all accepting a better pay deal.

Haven't read the full thread, so don't know if this question has been asked, but who pays the wages of the union leaders and how much do they earn?

@Stormyseasallround That’s really not the point is it? They are allowed to feel like they are being abandoned at a critical time in their education and how is that any less important than teachers who feel abandoned by the government?

Just pointing out that continued disruption to their education (whether caused by strikes or otherwise) DOES impact on the children - if you want to put that down to them being “soft” or not independent then I hope you don’t work in the profession.

Not all children are hard nosed academic powerhouses with motivated and interested parental support. For some children, the teachers are the only ones supporting their education and they follow a very fine line between success and failure as a result.

To add that my niece has some mild SEN for which she receives extra support. Hence why she’s at my house today and not at home “getting on with it”.

On the picket line this morning and the hoots and waves from passing vehicles was really uplifting. I'd always been very half arsed in my gestures of support before - now the shoe is on the other foot, I see how important they are and will go all out in future! X

You don’t have to be a ‘hard-nosed academic powerhouse’ to Google some Macbeth quotes (or what ever it is you’re studying) and make yourself some revision flashcards. Even the lowest ability children I’ve taught would be able to do something productive for one day.

Furthermore, far from being abandoned by their teachers, we’re striking in order to ensure that they have good teachers within the classroom, rather than those people leaving the profession in droves.

I listened to somebody on the radio explaining health strikes the other day and they are so necessary. They were saying so many staff are going to agency work as it's better pay (let's be honest, most of us would chose more money if we can) meaning NHS are short staffed, over worked, leading to more staff leaving... leading to the NHS having to then PAY for agency staff to come in at this higher rate. Surely it makes more sense just to pay NHS staff more in the first place? It's madness.

Their strikes are to HELP future patients.. because it has got that bad. Haven't you seen and read about all the ambulance wait times, sick people in corridors etc.?

Some might say that those things exist as a result of our EU membership. Certainly they appear to be on their way out now. I don't see the unions striking about that.

also laughing at that assumption everyone in the private sector is on £100k 😂

I do not support the strike, for all the many, many valid reasons that have been mentioned up thread. 18 teachers voted to strike in our school, 3 were on the laughable picket line this morning for 20 mins and disappeared as soon as the bell went. Where were the other 15 'passionate' striking teachers??? I would bet my mortgage at home in bed.

If they’re striking they can do what they like. Were you stood watching them for 20 minutes ?

I agree with @SherbetDips and mumsnet is full of champagne socialists who are unlikely to experience the terrible level of disruption caused by strikes across all sectors.

twitter.com/lorraine/status/1620723940032126977?s=46&t=ppHI-2XuPpTz5t-wPDmLNA

Mr P sums it up perfectly again!

I’m striking. I took DS to and then out for a run. Now making DD and I a packed lunch before we go out on a strike march. Picketing doesn’t just occur outside school buildings.

And please let’s remember that a lot of the rights and privileges enjoyed by us all (private and public sector) only exist because of unions. Holiday pay, maternity pay, sick pay… do you think the rich of the past handed these things over to the poor workers willingly?? Of course not. Unions fought for and secured them, and we all reap the benefits

This is historically inaccurate. Most of the changes came about from societal change, particularly after the second world war. And actually, many changes prior to that were led by "the rich" Victorian philanthropists leading the way in workers rights and new ways of working.

It was a shame to see both my kid's teachers on the picket line this morning, so we know they are amongst those who don't care about the children they teach.

Goady bollocks

Just went drop off snacks at the picket line at school but there was no one there which I think is a shame (we were told there would be a picket). It won't change my view but it will make some people question why there are 2 year groups at home today if there isn't a visible presence. Perhaps our teachers have joined a larger picket somewhere else.

Watch this @Oysterbabe twitter.com/lorraine/status/1620723940032126977?s=46&t=ppHI-2XuPpTz5t-wPDmLNA

Why I’m striking - because I DO care. I’m also taking DD picketing with me. It’s her educational future too.