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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this round of teacher strikes have barely been noticed?

233 replies

Crunchymunchies · 28/02/2023 13:02

I know it’s regional, but I can’t find a thread here, only a brief mention on the BBC and even the daily mail it is way down.

is this a bad or good sign?

OP posts:
ilovesooty · 01/03/2023 01:43

cardibach · 28/02/2023 22:01

You know inset days are holiday days, yes? That het were taken from teachers’ holidays, not term time…

Show quote history

It's dispiriting that so many people are still ignorant about this.

MistressIggi · 01/03/2023 06:35

I saw a tweet suggesting we strike in July. I hope they were being tongue in cheek...

Original poster
Crunchymunchies · 01/03/2023 06:45

Nothing on the BBC today, under education is a lecturer with learning disabilities and parents to be given baby weaning advice.

OP posts:
MistressIggi · 01/03/2023 06:47

Wait for the pickets, Crunchie

dephlogisticated · 01/03/2023 06:49

Hasn't even been mentioned by the actual school my DC attend! Or any of the parents, so gutted as I wanted to be able to support them and show solidarity but I guess none of them are striking (East so definitely a strike day)

monyay · 01/03/2023 07:04

Do we also think that the number of people able to work from home now will lessen the impact and outrage from parents about the inconvenience?

Original poster
Crunchymunchies · 01/03/2023 07:08

I think a lot aren’t striking. I did find a list somewhere yesterday of fully closed schools , and it was only a handful and I think only one secondary. I guess some will have had partial closures though.

If teachers don’t strike, can the government rescind the original offer?

OP posts:
tinytemper66 · 01/03/2023 07:09

Wales and part of England are striking tomorrow! 🪧

Copasetic · 01/03/2023 07:14

It's certainly having no impact here. Son (year 7) has had one strike day so far where some lessons offered online but his weeks are pretty full on with training every night after school so was quite welcome. Again tomorrow he will have a day at home and it'll give him a chance to do any homework he hasn't yet done etc. I'm actually all for a 4 day week! I actually will be working but I bet he has a nice day. He is lucky though that he is in an early secondary school year where the impact won't be felt too much. My daughter at uni is very much less happy when her lecturers strike!

CarrieSmisher · 01/03/2023 07:30

Not much being said here, I'm in Scotland. Parents are used to it, nobody at work has mentioned it. I noticed some pickets outside a Stirling secondary school but they were gone by five past nine when I returned. I suppose we're all used to teachers complaining. I'm waiting on my pay award this year. It won't be 5% , or any percentage, across the board.

noblegiraffe · 01/03/2023 07:40

Crunchymunchies · 01/03/2023 07:08

I think a lot aren’t striking. I did find a list somewhere yesterday of fully closed schools , and it was only a handful and I think only one secondary. I guess some will have had partial closures though.

If teachers don’t strike, can the government rescind the original offer?

There wasn't an offer in England, there was a pay award. It has applied (i.e. been teachers' pay) since last September. Schools who have given that pay rise to teachers have had to take the money from other parts of the school budget to do so because the government only announced at the very last minute what the pay rise would be and that there wouldn't be any money given to schools to pay for it. Schools had already had to set their budgets for September by then, so had to make cuts (or not give the pay rise).

Original poster
Crunchymunchies · 01/03/2023 07:54

Didn’t you say there was a 3% increased from September, or was that Scotland?

Sorry, getting confused!

OP posts:
Springchicken75 · 01/03/2023 08:03

The teachers strike is a damp squib because ultimately there are others in far, far more need, many of whom have children that need school to eat, to be warm for the day and to be safe.

It shocks me the disregard for vulnerable children to secure yet more pay rises for themselves. The lack of awareness of real suffering and teachers contributing substantially to that suffering with these pointless strikes is largely ignored by those motivated by politics and/or greed on here.

The unions have largely failed in their attempts to strong arm the country into unaffordable pay rises. They can’t afford to continue indefinitely and have lost public support.

HappyAsASandboy · 01/03/2023 08:09

I've noticed - one of my children's schools is closed but the others are not! There is a lot of sibling resentment here this morning!

Rae36 · 01/03/2023 08:35

I've noticed.

3 kids off here in Scotland for 2 days, another 2 days scheduled in just a couple of weeks time.

2 kids in exam years. Its really tough.

noblegiraffe · 01/03/2023 08:51

Springchicken75 · 01/03/2023 08:03

The teachers strike is a damp squib because ultimately there are others in far, far more need, many of whom have children that need school to eat, to be warm for the day and to be safe.

It shocks me the disregard for vulnerable children to secure yet more pay rises for themselves. The lack of awareness of real suffering and teachers contributing substantially to that suffering with these pointless strikes is largely ignored by those motivated by politics and/or greed on here.

The unions have largely failed in their attempts to strong arm the country into unaffordable pay rises. They can’t afford to continue indefinitely and have lost public support.

Wheeling out vulnerable kids as a concern only ever seems to happen on a day schools might be closed and never in evenings, weekends or holidays. It’s a pretty disgusting tactic.

In any event, many schools are making special provision for vulnerable children.

If you care about vulnerable kids you should be horrified at the actions of the government who don’t care about them enough to fund support or food for them, not teachers who regularly go above and beyond to support them.

Nowhereelsetogo90 · 01/03/2023 08:53

I think it depends where you are - I’m a teacher in Scotland and every school (bar nurseries) is closed. That’s a big impact.

Nowhereelsetogo90 · 01/03/2023 08:56

@Springchicken75 I think your comments need directed towards your Government, not teaching staff. I’m only 32 - when I was at primary do you know who’s job it was to feed/clothe/heat/get me to school/do homework/provide extra curricular activities? My parents. Not my school! My school was there to educate me. And I was living below the poverty line and would be ‘vulnerable’ by todays standards. The Government needs to pay EVERYONE (not just teachers) enough money to care for their children adequately. And parents need to do their job and not assume the school will do it for them.

Velvian · 01/03/2023 08:59

East Anglia here and it's a strike day. DD's school on strike, DS's is not, he was not impressed.

noblegiraffe · 01/03/2023 09:03

Crunchymunchies · 01/03/2023 07:54

Didn’t you say there was a 3% increased from September, or was that Scotland?

Sorry, getting confused!

That was their recommendation to the independent pay review body, who will consider the evidence and make their recommendation back to the government who don’t have to accept it. It’s all a long, drawn-out and fairly stupid process as the independent review body basically recommend what the government wants them to.

Original poster
Crunchymunchies · 01/03/2023 09:06

OK - thanks!

OP posts:
noblegiraffe · 01/03/2023 09:07

That 3% recommendation is a normal government process separate to anything going on with the unions.

Forever42 · 01/03/2023 09:11

I did find a list somewhere yesterday of fully closed schools , and it was only a handful and I think only one secondary. I guess some will have had partial closures though.

DfE have encouraged schools to open for "vulnerable" pupils. Those schools won't be classified as closed. Eg, the school I teach in is open for children with EHCPs and those with social care involvement. That's about 10 children out of 200 to be supervised by the Headteacher and support staff. It is classified as open though. My DC's school is open to Year 11 and Year 13 to come in and study independently but not be taught. It will still be recorded as open.

Original poster
Crunchymunchies · 01/03/2023 09:33

I know, I do say above that some will have partial closures.

OP posts:
Springchicken75 · 01/03/2023 10:00

Nowhereelsetogo90 · 01/03/2023 08:56

@Springchicken75 I think your comments need directed towards your Government, not teaching staff. I’m only 32 - when I was at primary do you know who’s job it was to feed/clothe/heat/get me to school/do homework/provide extra curricular activities? My parents. Not my school! My school was there to educate me. And I was living below the poverty line and would be ‘vulnerable’ by todays standards. The Government needs to pay EVERYONE (not just teachers) enough money to care for their children adequately. And parents need to do their job and not assume the school will do it for them.

Do you honestly think you can ‘buy’ better parenting?!
Children are vulnerable due to an array of issues that are not money related: alcohol and/or drug addiction, poor mental health, young unsupported pregnancies, too much time in the care system, abuse, domestic violence - I could go on.

Many of these children won’t be ‘registered’ anywhere. They will simply be struggling silently. Many working families depend on school for their children to eat, to be warm.

Not everything boils down and can be fixed by this limitless stream of money you assume exists purely for your benefit.

In your world clearly all you care about is a pay rise for yourself, but trust me your strikes are just damaging vulnerable children.

Well cared for children will continue to thrive.
Most parents are used to working with inconvenience and stopped caring long ago about moany teachers. Most people generally could not care any less.
So that leaves the voiceless children that are not on the ss radar that need school for protection, warmth, security and stability they are punished because you want more money. Well done you.