Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

NEU tells teachers not to go to work on Monday

944 replies

Workyticket · 02/01/2021 13:24

skwawkbox.org/2021/01/02/breaking-union-tells-teachers-not-to-go-to-work-on-monday/

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
year5teacher · 02/01/2021 17:59

@justgeton

I wonder how much of this is because a vaccine is now available.

There wasn't this fuss last Summer. Now the vaccine is available it smacks of getting themselves to the front of the queue come what may.

Last time I checked there wasn’t 57,000 new cases a day last summer.
Redbirds · 02/01/2021 17:59

Schools shouldn't be closed for long as surely the government have clear scientific evidence to challenge the closures. If they don't then teachers ( and any other occupation in the same position) should have our full support to close.

justgeton · 02/01/2021 18:00

Are you seriously comparing testing last summer with testing today ?

mrjuno · 02/01/2021 18:00

Had to go out - but thanks to those who suggested Academies, support jobs etc. Something good may come out of this after all. I had assumed that as I have had no recent or relevant experience since about 1999, it was a non-starter.

Otherwise, so many instances of the MN 'Chinese Whispers' effect. As it happens, I am hardly hysterical about Covid. I know only one person who has had it (my 80 yr old mum). She was ill for a couple of days, and was then fine. I want the vaccine to be rolled out as quickly as humanly possible so that we can all get back to normal. I don't care whether I'm vaccinated or not. I have no strong feelings either way pro or contra vaccination. I just want them to decide who should be first in the vaccination queue for entirely pragmatic reasons, and get on with it.

AaronPurr · 02/01/2021 18:01

@Redbirds

Schools shouldn't be closed for long as surely the government have clear scientific evidence to challenge the closures. If they don't then teachers ( and any other occupation in the same position) should have our full support to close.
Yep, should be easy for them to sort, right...
Noellodee · 02/01/2021 18:01

I always think that people's perception of the motives of others is a better reflection of how they themselves think.

SoscaredforJan · 02/01/2021 18:01

Seems like the Us4Them twat clanger has gone off again Grin

2020out · 02/01/2021 18:01

@justgeton

Are you seriously comparing testing last summer with testing today ?
Yes. Tests weren't in short supply in August and aren't now. Confused
Emmie12345 · 02/01/2021 18:01

@Brainwave89

That is fine. I would expect then that all teaching staff being paid are redeployed on online teaching or testing. We had two teachers during the lockdown who had a great time in Cornwall surfing. Posting on Facebook about how This was the best summer ever. I am sure it was, but for the rest of us if we do not work we do not get paid..
Totally agree

Any excuse !

ChloeDecker · 02/01/2021 18:01

There wasn't this fuss last Summer.

Yes there was.

justgeton · 02/01/2021 18:02

Oh we were mass testing the asymptomatic were we?

I don't think so

ineedaholidaynow · 02/01/2021 18:03

I am a Governor in an Academy we haven't employed any teachers who aren't qualified.

If you want to help out at schools why don't you volunteer or apply for jobs helping roll out the mass testing in schools

noblegiraffe · 02/01/2021 18:03

Thanks GypsyLee and Ineedaholidaynow for your kind comments :)

Cecily42 · 02/01/2021 18:04

I agree. Poor teachers.

noblegiraffe · 02/01/2021 18:05

@Redbirds

Schools shouldn't be closed for long as surely the government have clear scientific evidence to challenge the closures. If they don't then teachers ( and any other occupation in the same position) should have our full support to close.
Absolutely. I am eagerly awaiting the government response to the request for safety information.

I do hope it's not the Chris Whitty statement from August that they sent out to political journalists today. Things have moved on a teensy bit since then.

SeldomFollowedIt · 02/01/2021 18:06

@ineedaholidaynow

Well your academy is more reputable then but I know a fair few underqualifieds!’

ChloeDecker · 02/01/2021 18:09

@justgeton

Oh we were mass testing the asymptomatic were we?

I don't think so

In August and start of September, they were testing asymptomatic people, mostly back from holiday and who didn’t want to quarantine. So much so that the govt had to change the guidance to the three main symptoms only and not children if you can help it. It’s partly why we are in this mess. People do have short memories don’t they?!
wizzbangfizz · 02/01/2021 18:11

Completely agree @laidbacklife our poor children. There are many that didn't want them back in September and I'm guessing they will finally be happy now - I just thank god mine had at least a term back. It's a disgrace and will be judged hardly in the future I'm sure.

HipTightOnions · 02/01/2021 18:13

There are many that didn't want them back in September and I'm guessing they will finally be happy now

I was delighted to see all my pupils in September and have thoroughly enjoyed teaching them.

Sadly, it is no longer safe for us to continue as we were in September.

sausageathlete · 02/01/2021 18:14

Teachers already were doing more work for no extra pay even before Covid19

I don't think I've seen a single teacher on MN acknowledge how much work TAs have been doing for no extra pay when they are already paid minimum wage. I have done fours weeks work unpaid to care for key workers children and had to plan activities for that (which also cost me money) which was a financial hardship because I was having to drive to work and spend money on petrol to get there (£15 a week) and that's ignored by teachers who earn so much more than TAs.

Beebityboo · 02/01/2021 18:15

I'll repeat this. Now, with the infection rates as they are, the US 4 Them argument is simply "I'm happy for others to die so my child can go to school". That's it, that's all it boils down to. It's a pandemic that is now rapidly getting out of control and people are going to die, lots of people. Less people of schools are closed.

Gogglebox20 · 02/01/2021 18:16

@justgeton - can you elaborate?

justgeton · 02/01/2021 18:24

[quote Gogglebox20]@justgeton - can you elaborate?[/quote]
On which bit?

year5teacher · 02/01/2021 18:27

@sausageathlete

Teachers already were doing more work for no extra pay even before Covid19

I don't think I've seen a single teacher on MN acknowledge how much work TAs have been doing for no extra pay when they are already paid minimum wage. I have done fours weeks work unpaid to care for key workers children and had to plan activities for that (which also cost me money) which was a financial hardship because I was having to drive to work and spend money on petrol to get there (£15 a week) and that's ignored by teachers who earn so much more than TAs.

I was a TA for three years and I was paid so little I didn’t even start paying tax until I qualified. Absolute joke. Speaking from experience it is less work in normal times (and our TAs were nearly all off all lockdown - we have ours through agency so they chose not to come in I think, which is fair enough), but the pay is absolutely abysmal. Like, unjustifiably bad. I don’t know how some of ours managed to afford not coming in.
Original poster
Workyticket · 02/01/2021 18:29

Heads won't know which unions their teachers and support assistants are in so if any follow NEU they'll be short staffed

OP posts: