Dame Allans Newcastle - Strikes

[Magpiefan]

Did any other DAS parents pick up a copy of the union leaflet about the strikes this morning. A lot more detail of the position than we have received from the school, and the deal being imposed on the teachers is terrible.

The school made out that teachers were asking for something extra when they just don’t want to be stuffed over by having their pension entitlement drastically cut – and fire and rehire, let’s see where that leads us. I’m paying them to give the best education possible to my children, by recruiting the best and well-motivated staff. If the school gets their way this will only end in teachers leaving.

Planning permission for the new sports facilities is readily available on the Newcastle planning portal – it looks like the teachers are going to be stuffed over to pay for it.

Can’t imagine what the atmosphere is like in staff room at the moment.
If you disagree with what is happening suggest you email the principal and governors to tell them. Seem like the teachers have reached the end of the line with negotiations, a bit of parent power might help.

Unfortunately I am away with work so unable to join, however I really hope lots of parents do. Maybe if parents start standing alongside the teachers on the picket line the school leaders and governors will start to listen.

We chose DA mainly because of the teachers. I'm starting to regret the decision now. If the school are treating their staff this badly and ignoring parents views they must be tone deaf.

Kudos to the students standing up for their teachers 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

@RealAzureViper if your year group has a Whatsapp, please spread the word🙏🏻 The more parents we have on the picket line, the better, especially with the governors' meeting taking place later that evening.

To other DAS parents here as well, if your group has a Whatsapp chat group, please let everyone know that we need more parents to stand with teachers on Tue. Thanks!!

Thank you to @MyZingyFish – you are obviously a very brave group of students who value your teachers. Was the “trouble” specified and what would be the offence? Don't students have an interest in this dispute as well as teachers and parents?

Not exactly in the spirit of “a school which introduces them to inspiring thoughts and experiences; a school where they feel known and valued; one which challenges them to risk new ideas” is it.

If any parents want to make a difference, my gut feel is that one letter to the governors is worth about 50 parents on the picket line. A written objection cannot so easily be dismissed or forgotten. Today is probably the optimum day to send as there is another strike and another meeting tomorrow, and Easter is looming. Governors emails are not on the website directly, but they all follow the pattern of '(first initial).(surname)@(dameallans.co.uk)' https://www.dameallans.co.uk/about/governors

50 parents on the picket line would be fantastic! But it's understandable that even if they want to, a lot of parents can't make it to the gates because of work and other commitments. If that's the case, an email to the governors is equally appreciated. As long as parents are not apathetic about this issue, it doesn't matter the form of support we lend to the teachers, either physical or virtual. Parent power is very much needed.

Here's hoping for a speedy and positive resolution 🤞🤞

I agree, either forum to support students and staff is equally valuable. So go along to support if you can ( and want to show your support in- person), if not write to the Governors, and demand amicable resolution, and I would have expected some form of consultation with concerned parents. The FAQs to parent was simply not good enough - in fact the whole debacle is simply not good enough. DAS wake up! You are losing valuable staff to the detriment of pupils, your reputation and ultimately your bottom line.

A colleague pointed this out to me... 🚣

https://www.dameallans.co.uk/about/vacancies

🤞🏻 it's a decent proposal

🤞🏻

What is the proposal? I've read my email about the school making a revised offer but it didn't contain any details of the new proposal. Do you have an additional letter? Could you share what you have please?
Fingers crossed this all gets sorted quickly but it seems like a sudden turn around 🤔

@RealAzureViper I just meant fingers crossed it is a decent offer for those striking, and hopefully not an insult!

Call me a cynic and I would be very happy to be shown to be wrong, but don't hold your breath.

1. It would have to have moved some way from the original derisory offer to be anywhere near what I suspect the teachers will accept, and by that I mean that some part of the deal involves staying in TPS without a penalty like a significant pay drop.
2. The threat of fire and rehire will have to have been withdrawn as that was one of the most worrying aspects of this dispute
3. The last minute.com, out of hours, timing of this seems like a ploy to have the moral high ground - Unions do not have time to canvass their members about this new offer before the strike tomorrow but the school can now say that they made a revised offer but the teachers still went on strike.

I understand that there are parent emails out saying an amended offer has been put forward, not a really good amended offer, or an amended offer that we hope staff will find acceptable. Just one that will provide ‘reassurance’
Reassurance starts by not being threatened with being fired in the first place.

Oh, ok thanks. That will teach me for scan reading emails whilst on a packed train. Fingers crossed 🤞

I guess the strike has not been called off then?

Spoke to current head of chemistry today, I note that’s one of the jobs advertised. They are off to RGS and who can blame them.

Strike is on today!

No picket line though so does that mean that the proposal is half decent?🤔

There was a picket line. I heard as passing that they left earlier to discuss the proposed deal. Didn’t sound positive.

Teachers (and parents) were in the picket line earlier. They went for a meeting with the union afterwards to discuss the 'new' offer. I say 'new' because apparently it was just the same numbers rejigged, teachers had to take a pay cut if they want to stay with TPS, and the pay will be less than the state schools.

It is heartbreaking - teachers saying they can't afford to stay and that the school has been their home, teaching there for decades.

Hopefully, they come to an agreement that is fair to the teachers, if not, there will be further strikes in April.

Oh no. Thank you for the update

There was no picket line at the junior school this morning

This must be a (very bad) joke - how many teachers pensions does a rowing coach cost.
https://www.dameallans.co.uk/about/vacancies/vacancies-post/~board/job-vacancies/post/rowing-coach

Do DA even have a rowing team? I may have just missed this completely but I thought it was all about the rugby and hockey. Surely this isn't a new role and a new team being established? This would undoubtedly require yet more expenditure.
And in the middle of this whole "we can't afford to pay our teachers" debacle! That's appalling if it is this case. Someone should hang their head in shame.

A rowing coach must be a completely new role. I’ve never heard of a Dame Allan’s rowing team 🤔 very poor timing if this is the case.