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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Strikes strikes strikes

167 replies

Rainyrunway · 27/04/2023 06:55

So many people are striking at the moment. We're personally affected and having to change plans or appointments by 3 over the next few days (nurses, teachers and engineers at a theme park!) I'm not making a judgement call here btw just putting a personal perspective. Anyone have any idea how or when they'll all end? Obviously they can't go on forever but it feels like if one group reaches a settlement, another group starts.

OP posts:
ChestermanBeach · 27/04/2023 06:56

When they’re all paid what they feel is fair I suppose. Good for them.

Eve · 27/04/2023 06:58

They should just accept being poorer

(according to the Bank of England yesterday 🙄)

GreenwichOrTwicks · 27/04/2023 06:59

Radio phone in now on LBC re teachers strikes - parents have really lost patience with teachers and any lingering sympathy for their pay demands seems to have now evaporated.

Zampa · 27/04/2023 07:01

I think they'll stop after the next general election (so 18 months time) when we have a new government in power.

The current government are ideologically opposed to reaching a settlement. They don't want to make it look like the unions "won".

ChestermanBeach · 27/04/2023 07:03

GreenwichOrTwicks · 27/04/2023 06:59

Radio phone in now on LBC re teachers strikes - parents have really lost patience with teachers and any lingering sympathy for their pay demands seems to have now evaporated.

The vast majority of parents I know remain supportive of teacher strikes. If you want good quality teachers teaching your kids, support the strikes.

Teaching has to be an attractive career, when it’s not, teachers leave and no one wants to take their place. We are screwed. We must support the strike action.

Blossomontree · 27/04/2023 07:03

Surprised todays teacher strikes aren’t bigger news, to be honest, which doesn’t bode well.

Original poster
Rainyrunway · 27/04/2023 07:04

Jesus @Zampa you think we'll continue like this for another 18 months? I really hope not.

OP posts:
funtycucker · 27/04/2023 07:05

GreenwichOrTwicks · 27/04/2023 06:59

Radio phone in now on LBC re teachers strikes - parents have really lost patience with teachers and any lingering sympathy for their pay demands seems to have now evaporated.

That's because they don't seem to understand the point that it isn't about pay. The current offer would be fine if it were properly funded. Schools are already in deficit so to then have to pay increases out of already stretched to the bone allocated budgets would destroy them. Do these parents support not having enough staff to keep the school open each day or no TA's in a class that has 20 SEN children (non EHCP) because they've had to make redundancies to cover pay increases? Are they happy for their child to be taught GCSE maths by a PE teacher? Not be able to do any practical work for art, technology or science because the school can't afford the resources to do the lessons?

It seems a lot of those against teachers striking are hypocritical because they support NHS strikes. You don't hear of HCA's being made redundant to pay nurses increases though, or staff having to buy dressings and medication out of their own pay because the wards don't have enough do you. So why is it ok for them to strike?

Blossomontree · 27/04/2023 07:06

What were they saying on LBC, out of interest?

Zampa · 27/04/2023 07:08

According to polling the public are actually majority in favour/neutral for all striking groups.

Strikes strikes strikes
megletthesecond · 27/04/2023 07:09

I think I think the government will cave bit by bit. They've sorted the Royal Mail strikes now.
I support the teachers and have told my MP and kids Headteacher this.

Cocochai · 27/04/2023 07:09

I support the teachers and pretty much everyone I know does too, even those who don’t have DC. The only one I know that doesn’t finds her three DC irritating and it’s an inconvenience for her to have to look after them at home (her words, not mine, and she’s not currently working).

ChestermanBeach · 27/04/2023 07:11

Those moaning about teacher strikes and their kids missing a few days of education..... It’s not the few days missed due to strikes that should be your main concern. It’s the quality of education on the days your kids are there you should be concerned about. With staff shortages because teachers are leaving and the difficulty recruiting new ones, your kids are getting a sub standard every day they’re at school. If teachers aren’t paid well for the job they do, it’s only going to get worse.

And it’ll be the most vulnerable kids that come off worst. My kids school are giving the top sets the regular teachers. The less academic kids have a different supply teacher every lesson sometimes. Kids are being written off.

Tallcurves · 27/04/2023 07:12

@Rainyrunway

the people who are a fault for this are all those who voted brexit and Tory in 2019.

anyone who blames the war and other factors just needs to compare to other countries in the West (ps the France issues were all about getting pension age to 64 which as we all know is a lucky position). It’s rather simple.

Srin · 27/04/2023 07:16

Tallcurves · 27/04/2023 07:12

@Rainyrunway

the people who are a fault for this are all those who voted brexit and Tory in 2019.

anyone who blames the war and other factors just needs to compare to other countries in the West (ps the France issues were all about getting pension age to 64 which as we all know is a lucky position). It’s rather simple.

Europe is awash with strike action at the moment. 😂 France only made it onto uk news because Charles had to cancel his trip there.

SomePosters · 27/04/2023 07:17

So what’s you’re alternative?

Send your precious children off everyday to increasingly underfunded schools until the building collapses round their ears? (Google the death of a student at liberton high school due to substandard building work)

Of all the things people get shitty about spending more on you would think that they would at least recognise the benefit of adequately funding the places they farm their kids out to day in day out.

You want schools to be in loco parentis for 5/7 days but actually paying people to adequately to perform that is too much?

Investment in education is investment in the future of our society, it’s pulling everyone up by the boot straps not just those whose parents can afford to let them believe they pulled themselves up by the bootstraps!

ChickenDhansak82 · 27/04/2023 07:19

The government can end the teacher strike by paying teacher salaries directly rather than from the school budget. That way schools aren't penalised for having experienced staff which financially cripples them!

Except the government has no money to cover this as they get away with paying schools such low amounts.

Inkpotlover · 27/04/2023 07:22

ChestermanBeach · 27/04/2023 07:11

Those moaning about teacher strikes and their kids missing a few days of education..... It’s not the few days missed due to strikes that should be your main concern. It’s the quality of education on the days your kids are there you should be concerned about. With staff shortages because teachers are leaving and the difficulty recruiting new ones, your kids are getting a sub standard every day they’re at school. If teachers aren’t paid well for the job they do, it’s only going to get worse.

And it’ll be the most vulnerable kids that come off worst. My kids school are giving the top sets the regular teachers. The less academic kids have a different supply teacher every lesson sometimes. Kids are being written off.

^ This.

The strikes will stop when teachers get a decent pay offer that is centrally funded. The Govt expecting schools to cover any pay increase out of their budgets means fewer books, no building improvements, less SENCO and extra curricular provision, even staff redundancies. How can any parent being annoyed at teachers striking to prevent that?

kirinm · 27/04/2023 07:28

I don't know many people opposed to the teachers strike. I think the education Secretary is awful and with her in charge I can't see any end. I think they are going to be striking up to July and then we be re-balloted. I'd imagine what will happen is the currently non-striking union will ballot again and they'll decide to strike so most schools close.

Rant46892 · 27/04/2023 07:29

I support the strikes including health workers who are most likely to affect me directly.

People are walking away rather than just the strikes. I am prepared to pay more tax for better wages in public service.

funtycucker · 27/04/2023 07:32

kirinm · 27/04/2023 07:28

I don't know many people opposed to the teachers strike. I think the education Secretary is awful and with her in charge I can't see any end. I think they are going to be striking up to July and then we be re-balloted. I'd imagine what will happen is the currently non-striking union will ballot again and they'll decide to strike so most schools close.

They are currently discussing reballoting

Original poster
Rainyrunway · 27/04/2023 07:35

To be clear I also support teachers, my post is not a complaint against them. It's just that I can't see a way out for us as a country. Sure they could reach a settlement with teachers / medics / everyone else (I really hope they do) but won't that just be a signal for the next underpaid group to start their own strikes? And won't inflation just keep shooting up?

OP posts:
sleepyscientist · 27/04/2023 07:35

Pensions and benefits rose by 10% but those going out to work have not had a fair rise and have took up to a 35% real terms pay cut. Until it's sorted I can't see them ending to be honest, tho why they didn't strike on Friday so we could have had a long weekend is beyond me. I don't think the money there so where he finds it is a challenge but it needs to be found be that by not increasing pensions and benefits at all next year

MissyB1 · 27/04/2023 07:38

Rant46892 · 27/04/2023 07:29

I support the strikes including health workers who are most likely to affect me directly.

People are walking away rather than just the strikes. I am prepared to pay more tax for better wages in public service.

And this is what’s going to be needed, more tax to fund much better public services. The trouble is no party sees that as a vote winner, and we know exactly what the right wing media would do with that idea.

Whatafustercluck · 27/04/2023 07:41

GreenwichOrTwicks · 27/04/2023 06:59

Radio phone in now on LBC re teachers strikes - parents have really lost patience with teachers and any lingering sympathy for their pay demands seems to have now evaporated.

This doesn't reflect my experience at all. Most are very supportive.