Teachers to strike - 30 June

[meditrina]

breaking now on SKY

Overwhelming vote by 2 teachers' unions (92%)

I do broadly support the strike action of the ATL and NUT but actually I think that my union, NASUWT, are getting it right by saying that they are going to wait for all the talks between the unions and govt to be completely finished before planning action for the autumn.

I think it's unlikely that we will actually strike, we're more likely to work to rule, which I've always quite fancied. It's a shame I'm going to be on maternity leave but I might still turn up with the new babe and picket with my colleagues if they do strike though.

Most of my colleagues are NASUWT so the school will still be open on 30th June, with or without kids.

I don't actually get many referrals from arthritic teachers asking for commodes. The research evidence also backs this up. Arthritis is a wear and tear disease. The sit/stand nature of the job allows a good balance of rest and activity which is protective against musculoskeletal disease. I do however lots of referrals from nurses, carers, physios and other health professionals who statisically have a much higher prevalance of musculoskeletal disability after 60. Back pain in Physio's is 90% as opposed to 60% in the general population for example. Just to reassure all you teachers that you will will be physically still going strong at 68.

I have been looking at DC's school's website and year 6 are on their residential trip on 30th June. Wonder what will happen there.

I have not decided whether to strike or not.

However, I am leaving the profession at the end of August to retrain in a different career.

My reasons are manifold, but include not wanting to continue working 14 hour (oh yes) days during term time, 8 hour days through every weekend and school 'holiday', getting paid a salary which does not even begin to compare to most of my peers, and being berated and belittled by people like ILR who have absolutely no respect for the extremely challenging job that teachers do. Admittedly I'm in school leadership, but it's hardly investment banking. My job is hard for many many reasons, not least because I have 12 children with English as an additional langugage in my class, and get punched by a child with BSD on a daily basis. I don't normally moan about it, but I really think the teacher-bashers should try it before they slate us.

FWIW, given the extremely offensive comments made earlier about 'last-resort' teachers, I am a first-class graduate with 6 years teaching experience and an OFSTED outstanding judgement to my name. But no matter.

The more this government and society does to undermine the teaching profession, including changing pension rights, the worse the standards of education in this country will get. No one in their right mind will train as a teacher in future. Which is fortunate because schools will be full of geriatrics waiting to retire.

ohanotherone, unison was massive in the march earlier in the year-there were hundreds of health care workers on that demo. unison are against the changes to the pensions for their workers and support the coming strike. it is not just teachers striking!

Actually I do take about 10 days off plus two weekends during the summer holidays. And Christmas Day. Should have pointed that out before people start tearing my post apart

lawrie, I guess it depends on what unions your teachers belong to.

Yeah well done those teachers at John Port - try telling that to my friend's DD whose education was so disrupted that they didnt actually finish the curriculum for their GCSEs

Perhaps when your friend's daughter grows up she'll realise that her resentment should be directed at those who planned the academy. Mind you, perhaps she won't, with adults around her unable to see the bigger picture.

My son's School makes such a big deal about taking children out of school during term time as, apparently, it will seriously affect their education. Because of this, I will not be at all impressed if any of the teachers in his School go out on strike. I will consider it "open season" on term time holidays or days out!

I think some people are missing the point. Nobody is saying it won't cause disruption. The whole point of a strike is to cause as much inconvenience and disruption as possible. The trouble is I don't think it will cause much of either to the people that matter.

' I will consider it "open season" on term time holidays or days out!'

Go ahead, the only person to lose out will be your son.

MooreJoyfull, that's an absurd comparison. Teachers are striking to ensure better working conditions which would mean that they would be better able to do their jobs and therefore better able to educate your DCs. Whilst I sympathise with parents who, for whatever reason, feel the need to take their kids on holiday during term time, the two things are definitely not the same.

Schools take a dim view of term-time hols not because we are trying to make your lives difficult but because we get judged by the govt on our absence figures. It's not our rule, just one that we have to live with.

MooreJoyfull, your school makes a big deal because Ofsted makes them. You have no idea what your teachers really think, individually, because they have no professional opportunity to tell you. It's a totally different kettle of fish, since striking is very much a personal decision.

Oh and a balloted strike is legal, not sending your child to school is not.

I think there's more of an argument if you live in London as the cost of living is so high. But many of the people in Unison who strike in my experience have a socialist left background or are those without professional qualifications such as support workers. Qualified health professionals sometimes work to rule but in general are very reluctant to strike. Unison give loads of money to Labour who in my view are responsible for alot of this mess anyway as Gordon Brown really raided the pensions and never came up with a way of managing the demographic changes / pension issue. If you don't like the plans what other plans are there????

I've just had a child arrive back from abroad after 6 weeks off. He's forgotten a lot of his basic English and missed out on several Induction visits and a performance he could have been involved in.
Never mind.

And it's not about causing "as much inconvenience and disruption as possible" either. If we wanted to do that we'd have done it last week during the maths GCSEs. Or before half term during the English ones, instead we have waited until Y11, 12 and 13 are done with their exams. And the NASUWT is waiting until the Autumn.

What this thread appears to be missing is that many teachers are also mums themselves with families. As many professions have been hit with cuts their partners, who may work in the private or public sector, have possibly also been hit with redundancy or pay cuts etc. Therefore it is a double blow for many families. It isn't really about private versus public. Surely everyone is struggling at the moment?

I am a teacher and I find the 'teacher-bashing' that happens on mumsnet quite upsetting. It has become so 'us and them' rather than parents and teachers working together for the same goals for their children. Surprisingly many teachers work really really hard for the benefit of other children. I am not saying that people in other professions do not work hard but the level of pay in teaching does not always reflect the intense pressure that teachers are under to deliver. We are at the mercy of each new government treating our children like guinea pigs.

I will not be striking on the 30th. I do not believe that anything will change and I don't want to let my children down. However, by not doing so I feel that I am not supporting my colleagues.

If the pension changes go ahead, which I believe they will, I will have to pay over £100 extra a month. As I have children of my own and my husband has had wage cuts of his own (private sector). I will have no choice but to opt out of the pension.

Schools take a dim view of term time holidays yet our local secondary school sends a letter home towards the end of each term saying that the school will close at lunchtime on the last day of term 'so that teachers can say goodbye to departing colleagues'. Absolutely astonishing.

Apologies for the appalling grammar in my last post. I have two sick children and another one who thinks the world will end if he doesn't finish the lego fort he is building.

As is the NAHT.

I agree feral, I do wonder if the NASUWT will cause more disruption by striking in the Autumn?

Unfortunately nowadays maxpower job security is in the past there is no such thing anymore no matter where you work. I'm with the civil service and voted to strike on the 30th June with PCS union. Fighting for the same things cuts to pensions, redundancy, jobs and privatisation. Public sector workers are getting attacked on all sides and are generally among some of the lowest paid in our society.
I may be lucky to have a job at the moment but with this government it wont be for much longer and that is why I'm happy to loose an important days pay to make the unions voice stronger.

I think the plans are for us to work to rule rather than actually strike (I am NASUWT) so at least schools will stay open.

Eddieshead, if you can find me a school in the country where any child actually learns anything in the last afternoon of term then I might concede your point. Until then, why shouldn't kids get an extra half day holiday? We have a lovely end of year assembly which is a brill way to finish and always leaves me feeling very proud to be at my school. Then we say goodbye to staff who are leaving.