To ask why the NEU aren’t sitting down and talking about pay?

[Isntthatapippette]

Genuine not goady.

Dear parents and carers,

I’m writing to update you ahead of the strike action planned by the National Education Union on Wednesday and Thursday this week.

This industrial action will mean more disruption to children’s education and to your lives too – whether that’s work, arranging childcare, or changing other plans.

I am extremely disappointed that many young people will once again miss invaluable time learning with their teachers and friends, particularly after their education was significantly disrupted during the pandemic.

It is made worse by the fact that this strike action is completely unnecessary. As I said to the NEU three weeks ago, I want to get around the table and engage in serious talks on teachers’ pay and other issues to resolve disputes.

My only condition was that strike action is paused so those discussions can take place in good faith and without disruption.

This was the same offer, and the same condition, made to unions representing nurses, ambulance workers and physiotherapists. Those unions accepted that offer, paused their strikes and are now negotiating on behalf of their members in private.

The NEU instead seems focused on strikes and all the needless disruption that brings.

This morning I have written to the unions again to invite them to have those talks on Wednesday and Thursday this week – all they need to do is call off strikes which are unnecessary and benefit no one.

The single best thing the NEU could do for both its members and for children and young people would be to sit down and talk about pay.

I will continue doing everything I can to end the disruption your family is facing as quickly as possible, particularly because I know exams for older pupils are coming up fast.

I hope any arrangements you make this week mean that pupils’ education can continue – even if not in the classroom – and that the next time I write it will be with news that this disruption has been brought to an end.

Yours sincerely,

The Rt Hon Gillian Keegan MP
Secretary of State for Education

You're right of course- I think that's what scares me the most.

I almost wish there was some nefarious plan to all of this. But the idea that the people who are running the country have no idea what they are doing is pretty terrifying.

I think that was very clear from their WhatsApp messages.

The disappointing thing about Gillian Keegan is that on paper she looks like a really good choice for Ed Sec. Left school at 16, did an apprenticeship, keen on vocational training, seems to understand her brief.

Having just looked her up, she has 10 O'levels, a business degree and an MSc.

Does she not realise that most teachers are parents lot of other parents also work in schools?

I will continue doing everything I can to end the disruption your family is facing as quickly as possible, particularly because I know exams for older pupils are coming up fast

She needs to make an offer fast- the NEU have a mandate until July, and further dates haven't been ruled out.

I think it's unlikely they would call strike dates during exams, but just before very possible.

I think Gillian Keegan needs to sort this out before it starts affecting this summer’s exams. Education has been underfunded for years and they need to start investing in the future workforce. I speak as a parent - I’m not a teacher.

I will continue doing everything I can to end the disruption your family is facing as quickly as possible

What have you done, Gillian? 4 days of strikes and missed education and disruption for families. What have you done about it? No offer, no negotiations, just snotty letters about how disappointed you are. You've even managed to piss off Geoff Barton.

I think Gillian Keegan needs to sort this out before it starts affecting this summer’s exams.

Most definitely. Having had one dc do GCSEs during covid, I most definitely do not want another dc adversely affected.

Not being goady but I think teachers need to get out their bubble, realise how good they have it and get back to work and stop damaging the kids eduction who have already had a few turbulent years.

Nope, you are being goady.

I’m not a teacher, not married to one, don’t work in a school, and I can see they don’t have it great.

What is damaging children’s education is the constant erosion of it by the government.

the teachers are fighting for better conditions for everyone. Don’t forget that the last “pay rise” wasn’t funded so in order for schools to cover that they had to take away from limited funds available in school already.

teachers fighting for better isn’t the reason education is a mess

I do actually understand Gillian’s approach. ACAS has a terrible track record and is very bullish, so I’m not suprised she doesn’t want to go via them. It is strange that the NEU is so hung up on not discussing directly. Gillians quite a character and I highly suspect the NEU has already shot itself in the foot now if it was hoping to get a good deal.

I think the same!!!! They have every evening, weekend and school holiday off! Working with 30 odd children is always going to be tough but there are lots of other tough jobs about I’d like to see how they would cope on a minimum wage job in a care home! 😂

i hope they are happy today are kids have had to face enough time off. Shame that for two days some kids are not getting a hot dinner at all!

It's like the people who were slating junior doctors yesterday have been told to put in a shift on the teachers today.

Teachers get paid enough. Throw in huge job certainty and very generous pensions and I don't think they realise how good they have actually have it. I agree that there are alot of issues in eduction but the strikes aren't helping things. Money doesn't grow on trees.

I thought there was a magic money tree when the DUP, Tory party donors, and Matt Hancock’s pub landlord wanted some public money?

Is it just education, healthcare and social services there’s no public money for? Why might that be?

I am sorry for anyone who will trust a word that this woman has to say rather than the NEU union.
Teachers go into education to teach and help the lives of young people.
This government is making a political decision with the way it negotiates or rather chooses not to negotiate.
If the government were serious they would have sat down and had meaningful discussions after the first strike.
This piss poor rhetoric of “ I care more and I told them call off the strikes and we will talk but they haven’t so they are education disrupters and ruiners of kids education and the disrupters of parents lives” is pure bull shit.
I have many teachers in my family and none of who have made the decision to go on strike lightly - every single one of them dedicated, over worked, underpaid, worried about the number of colleagues burnt out, worried about the number of colleagues leaving, worried about the lack of teachers to recruit in these roles that are going to be left before the end of the academic year.
I wholeheartedly support my family and any teacher who goes on strike and hope the government actually start caring about what is happening to the teaching profession and so the education in schools.

'Gillian' won't discuss directly.

Teachers do a lot more than 'work with 30 odd children'.

For a start, I personally work with about 200 directly....

The NEU have have mdse it clear they are willing to meet with Gillian Keegan at any point. She is refusing to even talk to them unless the strikes are called off which is why they have proposed going through acas instead.

the teachers and the unions aren’t the issue here!

Doesn't matter what you or Keagan/Govt thinks..... Teachers are voting with their feet and leaving/not joining the teaching profession and pay is an important part of that problem.

Same with NHS, folk are leaving/not joining... we either address the causes or accept a badly educated workforce and poor healthcare.

More widely, the UK needs foreign investment, companies will not move here if their potential workforce is unskilled and they cannot get healthcare.

More recently intakes do not get the pensions that say my sister got (she has left teaching now, too stressful) & have large debt.

Once upon a time, Teaching was a respected profession but much like many other occupations, it is seen by the Govt as just another job "Anyone can do it"

Well it sounds like you are a secondary school…. Get a grip you knew what you were getting into when you became a teacher! After a few years you can be on 40 k plus a great pension and lots of holidays off per year!

'Every evening and weekend off'.
That's shit trolling, that is. V disappointing effort.

Money doesn't grow on trees

It does for government. They find money when they want to find money. For this don't want to.

Can anyone tell me what the original pay claim by neu (other teaching unions are available) was? Interested that the wales pay offer (12% over 2 years) is not being described favourably.

they !!!!