How many teachers will be handing in the section 44 letter tomorrow and not going in?

[SoscaredforJan]

My DSis is scared to go to work tomorrow in a private primary school in Tier 3 but lowish numbers. She is not ECV but has got chemo damaged lungs so it petrified of catching Covid.

She desperately wants to follow union advice and not go in tomorrow but she’s worried that most teachers will be in as normal, she will have a black Mark against her and will be quietly pushed out.

Are there many teachers on here planning not to go in tomorrow? What do you think will happen tomorrow?

So, who looks after the front line workers kids then? Or are they expected to take time out of their intensive care shifts because their kids cannot go to school... just curious.

I hope EYProvider’s staff realise how little she cares about their wellbeing and find other jobs. Should be easy enough. Always vacancies in the sector.

With that attitude, I’d take my DC out of her establishment too.

@RaffertyBear schools have, and always will be, open to Kew worker kids. And I fact schools have never closed, just moved to remote learning. Like most other countries on the world.

The wider issue aside, what is your sister hoping for in her situation?

You say she works in a private school (recognised lower risk due to smaller classes) and she is in a tier 3 area with lowish numbers.

When will she feel safe enough to return to work? Death rates and hospital admissions will reduce as we move towards spring and the vaccination programme for the over 80's takes effect. That could be April 21 or later.

She's within her rights to follow Union advice, but she could potentially be taking a year or more off work. A non ECV 30 year old will not be offered the vaccine soon, if at all.

I'm so angry I can't type. This is because I lost a colleague last night and I am v v angry. As it was preventable.

@RaffertyBear

So, who looks after the front line workers kids then? Or are they expected to take time out of their intensive care shifts because their kids cannot go to school... just curious.

Keyworker places, obviously

@RaffertyBear

So, who looks after the front line workers kids then? Or are they expected to take time out of their intensive care shifts because their kids cannot go to school... just curious.

Teachers and other school staff will still be in school for KW and vulnerable children, just as they were during the first lockdown.

The letter reiterates that staff are willing to continue to work, just not on site but wfh instead

So again I ask, what measures are teachers/the unions wanting the government to put in place in response to your action that would make you return to the classroom. Schooling can't take place from home indefinately so what solution/s are you hoping for.

@EYProvider, I'm more than a bit concerned that you are an actual employer of people, as you seem to have a poor grasp of employment law.
You hope people get sacked for having concerns about the health and safety of themselves, their pupils, colleagues and wider school communities and society???!! You're a disgrace.

@RaffertyBear

So, who looks after the front line workers kids then? Or are they expected to take time out of their intensive care shifts because their kids cannot go to school... just curious.

Key worker children are offered places either at their schools or hubs. I teach lots of children of doctors, they have places at school.

NEU has advised staff to go in to supervise KW children as the classes will be smaller. It’s not a refusal to work.

@mumsneedwine - good for you! I am not a teacher but my DH is and I have asked him not to return until he has a vaccine and safety of teachers is taken seriously. Tbh I would prefer it if he never went back as I feel we as a society have completely failed teachers prioritising everything else over their safety. I wish you all the best in your new job and hope many others will follow suit (including my DH). I am angry with you!

Ey,

Key worker and dc who need to be in will be covered.

Ey provider, you do know your health and safety law? Every employee in the UK can declare this and on the meeting today plenty of Ey staff were asking on the chat about protections for them.

As have people across twitter and sm so you are very mistaken if you think your staff are not contemplating this.
It's your legal obligation to make it safe.

So sorry @mumsneedwine That’s awful.

@mumsneedwine

I'm so angry I can't type. This is because I lost a colleague last night and I am v v angry. As it was preventable.

mums I'm so sorry for your loss.

The front line and vulnerable kids would carry on going in as they did in first lock down.

I hope every teacher who does this gets sacked.

If they are sacked and it was a legitimate section 44 walkout (which this is), then they will be eligible for compensation.

@mumsneedwine 💐

[quote BatteredHake]@mumsneedwine

That is very unfortunate for the families of those involved and my concern silences fo to them.

However, you are clearly very unfortunate to know two people with no underlying conditions who have died of COVID given that only 370 under 60s in this category have died since March.[/quote]
Stupid statistic. You're OK with people with asthma dying? People who are obese (I recently realised that I just am. I also run half marathons)? People who are 60 (who aren't eligible for pension and might still be your child's teacher)? People with curable cancers with 99% survival rates?

Not a teacher but wondering what is the status of the union's advice? For example, my understanding is that if a union votes for strike action, its members can choose not to strike but it is looked on very badly. For this reason, I didn't join the union at my workplace because I'm generally ideologically anti-strikes and it felt like it would be hypocritical of me to join. Obviously this is different from a strike - so does this advice have the same kind of status?

Ey it's also the onus on you to know these laws and to make the setting safe within the laws.

If you do not understand or know the laws I struggle to understand in what capacity it could even be safe?

@pennylane83

The letter reiterates that staff are willing to continue to work, just not on site but wfh instead

So again I ask, what measures are teachers/the unions wanting the government to put in place in response to your action that would make you return to the classroom. Schooling can't take place from home indefinately so what solution/s are you hoping for.

Just the sort of things that have been mandated in EVERY other workplace - social distancing, masks, ventilation.

Poor form to go against a union directive. Have to stand solidly for union to work effectively. The head union has taken legal action do I would hope heads support the move

@mumsneedwine

I'm so angry I can't type. This is because I lost a colleague last night and I am v v angry. As it was preventable.

@SmileyClare

The wider issue aside, what is your sister hoping for in her situation?

You say she works in a private school (recognised lower risk due to smaller classes) and she is in a tier 3 area with lowish numbers.

When will she feel safe enough to return to work? Death rates and hospital admissions will reduce as we move towards spring and the vaccination programme for the over 80's takes effect. That could be April 21 or later.

She's within her rights to follow Union advice, but she could potentially be taking a year or more off work. A non ECV 30 year old will not be offered the vaccine soon, if at all.

She is classed as vulnerable so would be in priority 6 for the vaccine. So if the vaccinations are stepped up she should be done by easter. I’d like her not to have to take the risk with Covid running rampant through schools with no mask when she only has a few months left to wait.

Honestly, I’m too scared of the repercussions if I did it. So will be in as normal. I know I’d be bullied out if I did.