Teachers to strike - 30 June

[meditrina]

breaking now on SKY

Overwhelming vote by 2 teachers' unions (92%)

The teachers in dd'sr school work bloody hard and I can't imagine many of them being able to carry on the pace they do into their late '60's. If they feel they need to strike to protect their rights, then I'm right behind them (and probably will end up with an awful lot of children to look after that day!)

older teachers would be great surely? late 60s isn't old now either is it? and we are all going to have to work for longer.

So I assume that police officers are also retiring at 68? rather than 57 as they currently do?

public sector pensions should be in line with what the private sector gets. everyone's having to pay more for less pension and thats the people lucky enough to have a pension

People who I know in their late 60's arent old, but they are needing to slow down a bit and take life at a bit of a gentler pace. And blimey, its just like everyone is throwing their hands in the air and saying 'well its shit for us so it might as well be shit for everyone'

I would support DD's teachers striking if it results in them getting a fair deal.

I don't really understand the argument that everyone else has it worse. Surely, you don't begrudge someone else being fairly treated?

Ah yes, serve them all right. You never know, they might be looking for volunteers for the 30th and you could show them how to do it bobbysmum07 . Give everyone a taste of reality?

Well said, Lucycat!

Seriously, 68 and still teaching?

but it is shit for everybody!

Quite right ohyoubadkitten, we don't want anyone doing better than us, that's just not the British way .

Plus, if everyone has to stay in their jobs till 68, how are new teachers going to get a job - so they will be on benefits instead of 68ers on pensions.

It is very unusual for teachers to vote to strike ime.

I started teaching in 1996 and have never been involved in strike action in all that time. I actually don't teach now anyway, although I am still in schools, and the union I was in has not announced any ballot results as yet.

Like one r two other jobs I don't think elderly teachers ae ideally suited to the job. Teaching needs vibrant, energentic and ethusiastic teachers. With the best will in the world most 67 year olds are not going to find it is easy to keep up the pace.

And who will be complaining when it is their child being aught be a 68y teacher who is struggling to keep abreast of all the new changes or who hasn't quite got the energy to run around after ther precious children?

The teachers pensions are pretty good but they are no where near what many other publicservice pensions were like, such as the police pension. It was a perk of the job. It compensates for the fact that teachers pay is often lower than that of pther equally as qualified professional jobs, jobs thtat many teachers could have gone into instead.

But yes, parents won't like it. Their support will wane quickly.

Especially as there are still many people - including certain posters here on MN - who pretty much thing teachers have such an easy ride, only work 9-3, have masses of holidys, etc. Like I generally say - if it is so easy, go and do it!

My schooling suffered because of the teachers strikes in the 1980s

dreamingofsun Tue 14-Jun-11 19:07:03
public sector pensions should be in line with what the private sector gets.

_

Does that equally mean that public sector pay should also be in line with the private sector? Because I know that most professions who have similar levels of degree and post grad qualifications will earn far more than your average teacher after about the first 3 years of working.

No doubt DH will get called on to cover these strikes too if they go on for too long!

nicespam - don't you have any fight left in you? don't you feel that it is important to protect our rights? So many people have given into apathy. It is really sad.

We ain't striking in Scotland. Maybe you could all move north and fill our schools so we don't end up losing our jobs? :)

I went to school in the late 7Os and througout the 80s and don't even remember any strikes. So, for me at least, the odd day off (I assume all schools were affected) can't havedone me much harm. I do remember dinner ladis striking though for a while - it meant I had to go home for dinners which I'd never been able to do before.

Did it really Saltire? In what way? Was it prolonged action?

I agree OYBBK. Are people really saying that if they had the chance to fight to have a better pension THEY wouldn't do so?

kitten not really i don't anymore. dp is losing his job this year (royal mail) after 20 years and i am being made redundant from a job i really love. i have no fight it's true.

striking doesn't do anything to help any cause. i want to cry with the way this country is heading. :( but i will support the teachers

maxpower - teaching jobs are not safe ina ll schools. Many are making cuts and teachers are losng their jobs.

There were strikes in 1984-5 and 1985-6 I think (going by the classes I think I was in at the time). There were some when I was in secondary school but can't remember when, although I remember going to my gran's house sometimes.

oh I'm sorry nicespam, no wonder you are saying it is shit. dh lost his job last year, one that he had had since uni (a long time too). It worked well for him in the end but it was hard. I hope it works out ok for you both.

As a teacher I do struggle with the idea of a strike and agree it might not change anything. I love my job but am I prepared to work the next 40 yrs at less than half the pay of my DH when we're equally qualified and then get a crap pension?? Probably not. Thereby losing a good quality ( I think ) teacher.