Teachers on strike - do they usually name names?

[hester]

Just had a letter from dc's school, warning us of strike action at the end of the month and listing by name those teachers who will be on strike, and those who won't. They will close the classes of the striking teachers, and keep open the others.

Is this normal practice? I would have thought it would expose individual teachers to some irate parents? I also expected that they would treat it as a whole school issue, provide what cover they can, maybe suspend lessons and hav a games day in the hall. And if they couldn't do that, close the whole school?

I love what PartyStress said.

And I think 68 is too old for teaching at primary level.

So despite the inconvenience of finding childcare, I will be supporting teachers who strike on the 30th.
And as an HLTA (although not my current role in the school), I will not be covering striking teacher's classes.

What a great post partystress

I am not a teacher - I work in the private sector -but what exactly are they supposed to do? Pay freeze for 2 years, pension conts could double, they will have to work 6 years longer and all for less pension. No wonder they are pissed off. And then to be told by Danny Alexander that they'd better accept or else! It's not exactly like my job, where if my employer did that to me, I could look to do exactly the sane job without retraining for another company.

Teachers I know fully accept something needs to happen to their pension, but to hit them with all this in one blow seems mad and to be honest just plain wouldn't happen in the private sector, would it. The government need to come up with something much fairer - in my job, I work with companies making big scale pension changes and they do this by eg only giving people a 1% take home increase on their pay, while at the same time giving them a 3% increase in their actual pay - the excess 2% going as a permanent increase in pension conts. Or imposing increases pension conts over a number of years, say an additional 0.5% extra each year for 5 years.

Teachers have no option but to follow their union's advice - from what I have heard it is very unusual for ATL to strike - I think they are seen as more moderate? The pension really is one of the last big attractions to teaching - the last thing any government needs is a mass exodus from the teaching profession!

The ATL haven't been on strike in over a hundred years. Neither have the headteachers' union - and they are also balloting for strike action later this month.

NAHT action

Well, I'm a parent who is supporting the teachers. Which leads me on to my next question: my dc's class will be open that day. Do I take her to school as usual, or stay home?

I would take her - it will count as an unauthorised absence otherwise. Perhaps her teacher is in the NASUWT, who are planning to ballot soon also.

Thank you for your support - thanks to lots of MNers who have posted messages on this and other threads.

If the class teacher isn't striking I would take her
thank you for your understanding

Good question, Hester. It's a bit tricky sorting out childcare with this, since teachers don't have to inform their school that they'll be striking. I HAVE told them so that parents can be told & have time to make arrangements but I don't know what DS's teacher is doing. I don't know if I can ask - I think it's all a bit hush hush...

And yes, thank you to those of you who are understanding.

I don't no if dd's school will be closed on the 30th, but dd came home from school today and said her teacher was going on strike, and then asked me what a strike was. So I told her and that daddy would be striking too.

Not worried if they are striking but dio wish they could let us know if the are 3dc at 3 differnt schools .So far i know dd is out as 2 teachers are defintley striking so thats half the school then .

Ds1 is at secondry and we not heard anything .
ds3 is at school but another area .He only has one teacher as she is a sn s&l teacher so if she is striking he be o f.

Thanks ladies and good luck

Only one of us is striking - but the rest who are NUT should be changing union, and will have to see what happens at the later ballot. I may join Voice, which I gather is a non striking union.

I do not think, on consideration, I can remain in a union which has voted for strike action and not strike, and I am personally anti strike.

Obviously, none of us will strike break, and cover our colleague's class - that would be wrong.

teachers need their unions. they need to support their union in turn, although I am relieved that I don't have to make that decision right now.

we have not heard anything about it.

Another parent supporting teachers.

Having got to know several, I can't quite fit 'selfish' or 'not caring' or 'inconsiderate' into the same sentence as 'primary school teacher'

And for that matter, in any human relationship where responsibility is shared (eg responsibility for a child) there have to be times when one has to be flexible.

Heck. I was going to strike, but now strix has threatened to boycott my end-of-term box of Ferrero Rocher, I'm going to re-think.

I am actually in favour of the strike as a democratic process and a way to object to what this government is generally doing to the public sector in an attempt to crush and burn it. (Bit exaggerated, but that's just how it feels).

I work in the private sector and I don't resent paying for my pension twice (once from my NET earning and once through my tax), if this means the public structures I use are usable, well staffed by professionals and well mantained. What I REALLY RESENT is when these public structures are so undermined and underfunded that I am no longer able to use them, hence having to pay TWICE. Ie private schools and private hospital along with paying double tax. Our taxes are increasing all the time.

So to answer the OP, I would support the teachers striking and also the ones not striking, as they do have a choice we should protect in a democracy, and they are certainly NOT undermining education, it is this goverment that is attacking it from all angles.

SORRY I needed to get it out.

I'm a parent and I fully support the teachers right to strike. I think chibi (and others put it very well)

To others moaning about inconvenience, that is sort of the point, otherwise there would be no point in striking would there!?!
I still feel it is an inconvenience we all need to bear, if conditions continue to get worse for teachers (who are already underpaid in relation to the qualifications and responsibility they have) then we will lose all of the best teachers from the progression as they can be better rewarded &appreciated elsewhere. Is that what we really want??

Another parent supporting teachers and all other public sector workers taking action. May the force be with you. Have opponents of J30 action never read any history? How did we ever get decent terms & conditions, pay, holidays, pensions? Not from sitting on your butt waiting for those thoughtful and generous employers to work out what you might want and then giving it to you.

well said partyStress.

I do not take going on strike lightly. I'm a member of ATL which I joined as its has a policy of not striking. This was definitely influenced by the fact I did my 'O' levels in 1986 during the last big batch of strikes which had a detrimental effect on my education.

However I will be striking on Thursday as I feel the issue is so important. I am happy to lose a days pay to protect my pension. This is my first day of striking in my 16 year career.

The sheer fact that the ATL is breaking its own policy of not striking should give an indication of how important this issue is to teachers.

Another teacher here in the Nasuwt who have not balloted yet. I will vote not to strike, but if the vote comes out in favour, then I will be on strike. The union have supported me a lot in the last year, their power comes from us all sticking together, I owe them. However, as I am on maternity leave, it is irrelevant!
Unfortunately the teachers are under no legal obligation to tell management if they are striking, which is why some of you have not been told.
Silliebillies, I remember the 1986 strikes as a student, and it did affect my a levels, but I resat and here I am now with an MA under my belt. Without those strikes, teachers would not have the right to a lunch break and to be able to say no to the demands of more free after school clubs!

Btw, thank you from me to all those parents supporting us.

Hi all

I am another person who supports the teachers (and anyones) right to strike, I dont agree with all their points but do agree with others but they should strike for what they believe in, if they think its worthwhile, thats the point

However, I am getting exasperated as we have heard nothing from our school as to whether they may or may not strike, which, if any, classes may be effected etc

Is it unreasonable to have expected some sort of correspondence by now? I mean if the relevant unions have decided where they stand then surely its down to individuals to decide their position and surely they could have done so by now?

Am I missing something? How late notice can you be given over these things?