Teachers to strike - 30 June

[meditrina]

breaking now on SKY

Overwhelming vote by 2 teachers' unions (92%)

Thats going to get worse with the SEN proposals about 'not labelling' and not having statements.

I should think so, Riven. I worry a lot about SEN (or the children, not just from my perspective).

I'm a teacher. I understand we will all be living longer. My pension contributions were raised a few years ago to take this into account.

I understand the economy is shot and voted the current government in to sort it out.

I have no problem paying a little more for my pension OR having to retire later OR a pay freeze OR a move to CPI instead of RPI OR a career average scheme but not ALL at the same time.

I joined the ATL because it had never taken strike action. However, for the above reason I voted to strike and will do so even though it won't affect my school that badly as there aren't enough in ATL/NUT to cause too many problems.

People forget that the employer pays 14.1% contributions too so that a total contribution of 20.5%. True the employer is the state (unless independent school.) but that is a pretty well funded pension.

If everyone paid 20.5% of their earnings from age 22, they would retire on a very reasonable pension.

We all need to sort out this mess. The government needs to sort out the basic state pension. Why not freeze it at todays level forever and introduce an enhanced one at 80 or whatever life expectancy is now?

Madamecastafiore - FFS yourself! I am fully aware that I will work beyond 65 AND have made provision for that with MY own pension. This does not exclude me from having empathy with those who have a TOUGH job to do, physically and mentally tough when you graduate and enter the profession aged 22, intolerable and unfair to the children you are educating; now the goal posts have been shifted and you are expected to carry on to 68+. Let the strikes commence!!

feralgirl Just reading some of the recent posts - massive respect. What sense you speak and so sorry to hear someone boviously as committed as you is leaving the profession.

obviously

Even in mainstream, if you teach in an EYFS class you are very likely to need to change at least 2 or 3 wet or soiled pant each week. These are not children with SEN, just your average 3 and 4yr old. Even when they make the loo the seat is often wet and needs regular wiping. I would be appalled at any teacher who let a child sit in wet or soiled underwear until such times as a TA could see to it. In fact, I cannot imagine this ever happens.

FFS - I'm losing the plot, last few posts "massive respect" etc were meant for Ellierollie and not feralgirl - no direspect to you feral though

Ooh there are some rattled cages on this thread!

I'm a teacher and NOT striking because my union NASUWT has not balloted us. Even if we were, I'm not sure whether I would join them. The reason being is personal but I support those who feel as though they have to as I agree 100% with everything that they are saying. I myself cannot imagine a class of thirty, 5 & 6 year olds being taught by a 67 year old. Teachers need to be energetic, vibrant and bloody healthy!

Teachers are not the first and probably won't be the last industry to call a strike and every strike that has been called by one group or another, falls foul of public opinion because it's the public that get hit the hardest (one of my reasons why I don't think I will strike). Everyone in the country is being hit by pension changes and when it's YOU, you will fight back the best way that you can - hence all the strike action (and that is not just the teachers!). I went into teaching because of many reasons but job and pension security were not at the top of my list yet they were an incentive. Hence the reason why, when it's threatened, we get a little cross to say the least. Who wouldn't?!?! Teachers got a good pension because they fought for it. I'm not apologising for a system that I myself did not create. You see something you like, you go for it! Sometimes when I hear people moaning about what other people have got or will have, it reminds me of playground taunts and chants - the jealous ones griping because they haven't got.

It also enrages me when people make negative comments about teachers and schools. They think because they have children who go to school and because they themselves have been to school (some pre National Curriculum era!) makes them highly qualified to make judgements about what we do. I'm not going to go into it as that's for another thread and possibly a 600 page book - but we work damned hard! That's not to say others don't. But do not judge teachers because of something you haven't got!

As for the 'private sector' comments - my DH works in the private sector. He pays the same as me into his pension, but he's paid more than me (and I can't go any higher on the pay scale). Yet his pension is tens of thousands of pounds MORE than what mine will be. Teacher's pensions are not ALWAYS the best pensions around.

And on another matter, OFSTED have changed the goal posts AGAIN - for the fourth time in my so far, 11 year career! Now that doesn't install trust in the government because apparently THEY can't get it right either!

So no one is ever allowed to critisise teachers or schools?
thats plain daft. There are bad schools and bad teachers. This is irelevant to the strike action though.
This govt is unlikely to bavk down. How long can people sttoke for with no pay? The last tory govt broke the miners, this one intends to break the public sector :(

Riveninside = apathy didn't get us or the suffragettes anywhere. That's exactly the attitude this govt are hoping for.

i agree with the strike and the greviances
teachers nad public sector workers are right to feel aggrieved

Theres big rallies on the 30th in most cities. See you all there!

Mum2be79 if it enrages you when people make negative comments about teachers and schools and you dont think parents are 'qualified' to make judgements about what happens to their children, then I would suggest you are in the wrong job. Thats an absolutely ridiculous statement.

I have come across good, bad, indifferent and truly outstanding teachers. Presumably the letters of thanks I have written and the one to one thank you conversations I have had with the truly outstanding ones shouldnt have taken place as I'm not qualified to make a judgement?

not getting drawn in but is the strike just on the one day ? will check of course with dc schools if they are going to be on strike that day .

Thank you .

Mum2be - the NAS ballot was weeks and weeks ago and the members voted not to strike until discussions/negotiations were concluded!

How did you miss that?!

That was a ballot at the conference though, wasn't it - they didn't ballot all members.

That was a ballot at the conference though, wasn't it - they didn't ballot all members.

I'm sure this has already been pointed out, but I wonder of those who feel that teachers are selfish (what about other public sector workers, by the way?) will feel comfortable with the brain drain to the private sector, once reforms are pushed through, as no doubt they will be?

Haven't read all the posts on here but have to post as this makes me fume. I happen to think most teachers do a great job and yes they do work hard but they along with all other public sector workers they need to start living in the real world. They seem to think that all private sector workers have higher wages and a better deal - wrong wrong wrong. Both my husband and I work, we live in a very small 2 bedroom house (with a family of 4), we both went to university and we have no chance of having a pension as we simply cannot afford to. Sproingle - if we had to pay 20.5% of our earnings towards a pension we could not afford to pay our mortgage and other bills. My husband was unemployed for 2 years and only returned to work this January. We will probably have to work til we're 70+ but so will nearly everybody else in the country so what is the big deal about working until 68 - everybody will. GRRRR sorry makes me mad. Have no symapathy for teachers striking - if our school strikes on 30th I have a childminder for the kids who will be able to look after them but if both of them have to go all day that'll cost me £54.00 Maybe the teachers union would like to pay my childminders bill... I would be more than happy to be a public sector worker and would not be complaining about pension changes. I would probably be very unpopular as I would not strike even if I did belong to a union.

Although I sympathise with the changes to their pension etc, as a full time working parent of 2 boys in school - it's really difficult to deal with extra days off as well as all the school holidays, inset days etc.

Unfortunately due to this, teachers will get the backlash from a lot of parents.

Just wanted to add that I'm not teacher bashing - like a lot of us have said on here, there are good, bad, and outstanding teachers.....I just personally find it very difficult to find extra childcare and really cannot afford to use a days holiday (which I need for the school holidays), or have a parental leave day which is unpaid.

Feenie - I received a letter canvassing my opinions which I filled in and returned. In retrospect, it may not have been a ballot about striking per se - I think the question was along the lines of 'If there were a strike ballot, would you vote to strike before discussions have been concluded?' and the majority voted No to that question - hence the NAS have not taken it further at this stage.