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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Bloody teacher strike!

197 replies

NoSchoolYesSchool · 01/02/2023 08:35

Got a message last week saying class was closed because of strike. Not thrilled, but I support the teachers so took a day off work, booked to take kids to a soft play, let them stay up later last night because there’s no school. Just got a message from the teachers saying that the full school will be open today and looking forward to seeing the children! Are they taking the absolute piss? The strike I can support, but this is just fucking around the parents who’ve had to make an effort to sort childcare for the day? It won’t affect their cause at all, but completely screws me over! I’ve messaged and said kids won’t be in today because 30 minutes isn’t enough warning and I have things planned. Am I being unreasonable? Should I be sending them in? Just to avoid drip feeding, one child is neurodiverse and won’t manage a change like this after I’ve spent days gearing him up to being off

OP posts:
123rd · 01/02/2023 08:36

It's really not about you

Busybody2022 · 01/02/2023 08:37

I'd go ahead with your plans.

MaverickGooseGoose · 01/02/2023 08:37

I support the strikes but the lack of notice is taking the piss.

maddy68 · 01/02/2023 08:38

Just send an email explaining exactly what you said in your op.

PurBal · 01/02/2023 08:38

You didn’t see the message though because you were getting them ready for the alternate childcare arrangements. Contact them later in the day.

SavoirFlair · 01/02/2023 08:38

MaverickGooseGoose · 01/02/2023 08:37

I support the strikes but the lack of notice is taking the piss.

repeat after me:

schools are not childcare

schools are not childcare

Etc..

also what do you think the effectiveness of striking would be if they gave notice?

MarshaBradyo · 01/02/2023 08:39

Just do what you were going to they won’t care that much

Others will be pleased it’s open after all, they can go

Sunnyjac · 01/02/2023 08:39

Carry on with your day.

SavoirFlair · 01/02/2023 08:40

OP @NoSchoolYesSchool YABU.

seriously.

Your childcare plans are to insure you against the risk of a strike. They’re not some on/off switch, they’re to protect you.

Schools can’t give notice because strikers aren’t obliged to - and they won’t in order to ensure impact.

I am fine with this. I made plans today to cover my DCs, and that’s an insurance - it’s not a plan that then deserves notice or support from the schools.

Ohdearnotagain76 · 01/02/2023 08:40

Depends on their age. I have one off he was offered a place at school sue to sen but wants to get work done then go out with his mates so declined it. The kids have Bern told their work won't be marked or checked.

Lordofthebutterfloofs · 01/02/2023 08:41

I can see how that would be really frustrating OP

These things are unfortunately designed to cause the most disruption possible for a purpose. It's not personal though so try not to take it that way.

As others have said, crack on with your plans and enjoy your day.

BCBird · 01/02/2023 08:41

I would go ahead with your plans. The issue is schools are not allowed to ask who is striking,although in practice some do. This explains the last minute.message. Enjoy the day you have planned.

SweetSakura · 01/02/2023 08:42

SavoirFlair · 01/02/2023 08:38

repeat after me:

schools are not childcare

schools are not childcare

Etc..

also what do you think the effectiveness of striking would be if they gave notice?

Show quote history

Well, they sort of partially are. I mean, requirements around job hunting/certain benefits change when I child reaches school age -thats not a coincidence
And it's not unreasonable for people to be fairly reliant on them to be able to do their job.

Pootles34 · 01/02/2023 08:43

@SavoirFlair May I just ask - and I do support teachers, I think it's one of the hardest bloody jobs there is - what you propose parents do, if schools are not childcare? Are we supposed to pay for full time childcare just in case school cannot have them? Not work, because school is not childcare and therefore not to be relied upon?

I do support the strike, but I'm not sure I fully understand this argument.

Jellycatspyjamas · 01/02/2023 08:43

Schools may not be childcare but many parents have working arrangements that account for their kids being at school and need to change those arrangements when kids aren’t at school. Having changed those arrangements at the schools advice that they would be closed, it’s infuriating to be told at the last minute that a) there was no need to make other arrangements and b) that they now expect your child to be in.

OP I’d tell the school that you’ve made other arrangements that you are now committed to and go have a lovely day with your kids. Mine wouldn’t cope with being told they are off school and then being told to go in.

SauMore · 01/02/2023 08:45

Well the strike is designed to be disruptive, that's the whole point!
Since you've taken a day's leave and made plans then I'd go ahead with that.
But don't message the school back yet. You can message in an hour or so and say sorry you've only seen the message now and the kids are already away at the alternative plans you'd made.
Enjoy your day

RosettaTheGardenFairy · 01/02/2023 08:46

I know what you mean OP, it doesn't do much to encourage the support of parents. I know they are designed to cause maximum disruption, but if people feel messed around like this their support will sadly wane.

EVHead · 01/02/2023 08:47

I’d be emailing my MP to support the teachers and ask that their demands are met - would bring strikes to an end so no more inconvenience.

Ihaventgottimeforthis · 01/02/2023 08:47

What would be good is if all workers were supported to the extent that emergency childcare needs were understood and incorporated into conditions.
Imagine if we all had the security of knowing that if we needed to take care of our children, our employees would enable that.
Good pay & working conditions won't come without a fight.

dudsville · 01/02/2023 08:47

123rd · 01/02/2023 08:36

It's really not about you

This is a harsh response. If course teachers should strike for better conditions, but in addition to strikingv they've messed this parent about in ways not required of a strike.

gamerchick · 01/02/2023 08:48

SavoirFlair · 01/02/2023 08:38

repeat after me:

schools are not childcare

schools are not childcare

Etc..

also what do you think the effectiveness of striking would be if they gave notice?

Show quote history

In theory maybe but the way the world's been set up that's exactly what's happened. Yes we should be at the schools beck and call with a caregiver ready to jump at a moment's notice. But in real life, now with working households, we kind of need a bit of notice. You might not agree with that, but it's the way it is.

tillyrainbow · 01/02/2023 08:50

That is an absolute joke. School can't say it's closed and then on the morning say it's open. People will have had to put plans in place. Keep the kids off if you have to and tell the school their last minute communication and organisation is not good enough.

Workbaseddrama · 01/02/2023 08:51

SavoirFlair · 01/02/2023 08:38

repeat after me:

schools are not childcare

schools are not childcare

Etc..

also what do you think the effectiveness of striking would be if they gave notice?

Show quote history

Teachers do love to roll this one out but completely disregard the fact parents include school in their childcare plans. As a general rule of thumb parents get 28 days (including BH) annual leave a year which typically goes on the school holidays. Extra days like this, whether you like it or not, screw over existing childcare plans.

School is an educational AND a childcare setting.

Jellycatspyjamas · 01/02/2023 08:54

Imagine if we all had the security of knowing that if we needed to take care of our children, our employees would enable that.

My employee is incredibly flexible, but I’ve lost 4 working days to school strikes with another 3 to come. In some ways it’s easier because I’m in Scotland with one dominant union so strike action usually means the school is closed - so we don’t have the “will they/won’t they” there is elsewhere. It’s a lot though to expect my employer to just accommodate my childcare plans when teachers strike and annual leave simply robs Peter to pay Paul.

I support striking workers, but let’s not pretend it doesn’t put parents own jobs at risk if they constantly need to chop and change plans to accommodate schools. We need the whole system to work together - I’ve written again to my MSP asking them to bring the industrial action to a conclusion.

kwiskal · 01/02/2023 08:57

School is an educational AND a childcare setting.

NO IT ISN'T !!!

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