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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

List of striking teachers

190 replies

Motherland2624 · 01/02/2023 10:27

Hi
one of my sons is in the upper sixth of the local grammar school
the headmistress has just sent a list of striking teachers (for our information)
to get a idea of what our child’s day is going to look like
do you think this is a power move by the head trying to name and shame the teachers
I think it’s totally unnecessary its a legal right to strike
strike or not I support all teachers in their choice
just wondering on peoples opinions ?

OP posts:
Igotjelly · 01/02/2023 10:29

Yes absolutely unnecessary and frankly I’m not sure it’s legal. I would imagine their union would have something to say about it.

mumoffourminimes · 01/02/2023 10:30

Reply with "good for them" and "they should stand up for that they believe in, a valuable lesson for the children"

Bootoagoose123 · 01/02/2023 10:46

I'm fairly sure (could be wrong) that union membership is one of the most protected pieces of info under GDPR rules so unless she has every member of staff's permission to do so, she should probably expect a call from the NEU!

wonderstuff · 01/02/2023 10:48

I’d be worried about the ability of that school to recruit in the future, I’d certainly not consider working for a head that did that, awful behaviour.

Brefugee · 01/02/2023 10:49

I'd be sending those teachers snacks and hot drinks when they're back in school and thanking the head for letting me know which teachers care enough to strike.

Evvyjb · 01/02/2023 10:50

That's appalling.

Crumpetdisappointment · 01/02/2023 10:52

it is to get an idea of what your day is going to be like
how else would you prefer to know?

Crumpetdisappointment · 01/02/2023 10:52

not your day obviously, your dc day

Wowsersreally · 01/02/2023 10:52

That’s awful, we’ve been sent a list of classes that wouldn’t have work set but no names given out.

The head at my school is also unsupportive of strike action. I can’t fathom it! It’s really upsetting!

Crumpetdisappointment · 01/02/2023 10:53

and it isnt NAme and Shame

it is good for them!

forgettingtoremember · 01/02/2023 10:54

Crumpetdisappointment · 01/02/2023 10:52

it is to get an idea of what your day is going to be like
how else would you prefer to know?

Why does she need to know? It's a sixth form not reception class. Her DC can tell her what lessons they had / missed.
OP I think it's appalling and I'd report to the union tbh.

forgettingtoremember · 01/02/2023 10:54

Crumpetdisappointment · 01/02/2023 10:53

and it isnt NAme and Shame

it is good for them!

Good for who?

Slowingdownagain · 01/02/2023 10:55

That's odd. but then again our school published a list of the classes that wouldn't be open. It wasn't hard to figure out who was striking. So not sure it is a "power" move.

PartyTips · 01/02/2023 10:58

Crumpetdisappointment · 01/02/2023 10:52

it is to get an idea of what your day is going to be like
how else would you prefer to know?

I don’t see how this even remotely achieves that aim though.

watcherintherye · 01/02/2023 11:00

forgettingtoremember · 01/02/2023 10:54

Good for who?

Show quote history

I read that as
‘Good for them!’ i.e. the teachers, for striking.

catsandkid · 01/02/2023 11:00

Bootoagoose123 · 01/02/2023 10:46

I'm fairly sure (could be wrong) that union membership is one of the most protected pieces of info under GDPR rules so unless she has every member of staff's permission to do so, she should probably expect a call from the NEU!

You're right - Union membership is considered Special Category data that needs express consent to process and disclose in this way. You could argue that not all teachers on this list are NEU members, but there is an easy inference to make from the list (i.e, you'd infer that they are NEU members). And there seems no legitimate interest reason to publish such data (even if they had consent) so I think this seems like a GDPR breach to me

PartyTips · 01/02/2023 11:01

Slowingdownagain · 01/02/2023 10:55

That's odd. but then again our school published a list of the classes that wouldn't be open. It wasn't hard to figure out who was striking. So not sure it is a "power" move.

Schools don’t know which teachers are striking until the day of the strike. So the classes that are open would have been prioritised and covered by whichever teachers are in or by external cover. It doesn’t mean that class teacher isn’t striking.

berksandbeyond · 01/02/2023 11:02

Well certain classes are shut in my child’s school (one of year 1 classes is shut, one is open) so you don’t have to be a genius to work out who is striking! I imagine it would be the same for your child - if Mr brown isn’t there, then Mr brown isn’t there?!

catsandkid · 01/02/2023 11:02

Slowingdownagain · 01/02/2023 10:55

That's odd. but then again our school published a list of the classes that wouldn't be open. It wasn't hard to figure out who was striking. So not sure it is a "power" move.

That's not always directly resulting from strike of that teacher though. For example, DS's school KS2 entirely is shut. But I know that only 2 teachers are actually on strike (family member works at the school in KS2!)

Crumpetdisappointment · 01/02/2023 11:02

why would you conclude the head teacher is anti strikes

Slowingdownagain · 01/02/2023 11:03

PartyTips · 01/02/2023 11:01

Schools don’t know which teachers are striking until the day of the strike. So the classes that are open would have been prioritised and covered by whichever teachers are in or by external cover. It doesn’t mean that class teacher isn’t striking.

Show quote history

Not in our school. The teachers agreed to say in advance whether they would be striking, against union advice. Of course we had the "things may change, they have a right to strike without notice" disclaimer but that seemed not to have transpired.

The classes that were closed were those where the class teacher was striking. They told the kids - as they should.

Malbecfan · 01/02/2023 11:03

Brefugee · 01/02/2023 10:49

I'd be sending those teachers snacks and hot drinks when they're back in school and thanking the head for letting me know which teachers care enough to strike.

Just to correct you slightly @Brefugee , whilst I appreciate the sentiment to send in snacks etc., some of us care deeply about the reasons for the strikes but members of our Union did not vote in enough numbers, so we have been told by said Union that we have to teach our normal classes. Had the vote gone the other way, I would be on the picket line now. As it happens, I have to go in shortly (P/T teacher). But I really care about the dire state of education in this country.

Crumpetdisappointment · 01/02/2023 11:03

and what difference does it make if the head teacher is anti strikes?
seems like you are looking to be offended

JenniferBarkley · 01/02/2023 11:06

I would breezily reply to say thank you for the information and that you support the teachers and wish them well.

Chickenly · 01/02/2023 11:06

Crumpetdisappointment · 01/02/2023 11:03

and what difference does it make if the head teacher is anti strikes?
seems like you are looking to be offended

I think your very clear disapproval of the strikes is somewhat impacting your common sense.

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