Can Head Teachers get supply teachers to cover classes if teachers strike?

[NoelEdmondshair]

Just wondering.

TA's in our school are not insured to cover lessons, so they won't be doing it anyway.

I have told my Cover staff, the only lessons they will be covering that day, are for those that intending to come to work, but are off sick.

It's going to be an interesting day!

I work in a school and support staff have informed SM we will not cover for striking teachers. SM not happy.
All the SM team (head, deputy, 2 assistants) will be in school and covering striking teacher's classes

Gosh! That's naughty! My HT was very supportive and tbh, I don't think either of us had considered it should be any other way!

Our TAs and HLTAs will not cover classes in solidarity with teachers as advised.

That's the plan, anyway. I think a u-turn is in the cards given the strength of staff feeling.

To be fair to the SMT, I think their main concern is to keep the school open for the benefit of the children- inner city primary with high levels of deprivation.

My Head is very relieved that the two staff in NUT or ATL are not employed to work on Thursdays!

I attend an art history course. Our class is on the day of the proposed strike and our tutor (non-union) has asked us to change our day in support of striking teachers. We have all agreed - solidarity!

Any teaching assistants who cover for striking teachers should demand the equivalent of a teacher's salary for that day.

thank you :)

carmina the only reason the NASUWT aren't striking next week is because they haven't held their ballot yet. But as they are traditionally more militant than, for example, the ATL, it's highly likely they will.
And yes, it may well continue into the Autumn term. What is the relevance of your DS starting secondary school?

I was asked to cover for striking teachers (am HLTA)

have declined

I am in sympathy with the teachers going on strike. I can't imagine an arthur scargill stye picket line at a school. Teachers aren't going to picket children or support staff.

The NAHT are also balloting for strike action in the Autumn.

NoelEdmond - out of interest - why are you giving your daughter the day off regardless?

In my DS's school half the classes are open - half aren't - a bit hard for parents with one child in a striking teacher's class and one in a non-striking class !

DH (in NASUWT so not striking) says he and his colleagus are teaching their normal classes but the ones that would normally be taught by striking teachers are to be covered by the Senior Leadership Team.

It is not illegal for the Head/Deputies/Assistant Heads to cover classes during strikes - DH says it is probably their duty to keep the school open.

NAHT advice on covering classes

Ragwort - I was going to give DD the day off because she's tired and if her teachers can take a day off at whim so can she. As it is, they're closing the school as some teachers are striking.

Neither would I.

Interested in the idea that (accurately) describing 'covering' for strikers as scabbing has been criticised as infantile. In what way is this traditional term of disapproval 'infantile'?

If and when NAHT strike then all the schools will be closed again. Most Headteachers belong to the NAHT and therefore this will again cause a headache for parents !! but it must be done.

They will ballot shortly whether or not they will strike, but it is only a matter of time and given notice when this will happen.

I can see how an NASUWT strike would close schools, but would one by NAHT really have that effect?

"take a day off at whim"
Yeah, right, coz that's what this is all about.
If you're intending to keep your child off "just because," then don't start whingeing about her education being disrupted, will you?

Euphemia - the people teachers are inconveniencing are parents (and possibly their employers), not the government - they won't care.