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?

Thankfully, both DS2 and DDs classes are shut next week - it would have been a nightmare if only one was! That's pretty much all I was concerned about.

Yes - would love someone to clarify what, if any, notice teachers are required to give schools of their intention to strike prior to the day concerned - haven't heard anything from my dss' school, either.

7 days, I believe.

There is no obligation to give any notice apparently. Same for all unions I think.

From the NAHT FAQs:

How much notice are unions required to give before they embark on strike action?

In order to be protected against proceedings by an employer, a union?s call for industrial action will need to be covered by adequate notice of official industrial action. To provide such notice, the union will have to take steps to ensure that the employer* of workers which the union believes have been, or will be called upon to take part in official industrial action receives a written notice from the union which:

■Reaches the employer after the union has taken steps to notify the employer of the result of the ballot relating to the industrial action, but no less than seven days before the day specified in the notice.

Interesting thanks. Although personally I dont think it help attracts sympathy if you give little notice, as I say I support the right to strike but the aim is to achieve change through publich pressure

Its my 40th birthday on 30th June, may just take the kids out for the day and not worry!

Individual teacher do not have to tell their school they are striking (I would imagine most will)

Do I have to tell my headteacher if I am going on strike?
The NUT will write to headteachers informing them of the strike and the number of NUT members in the school that we expect to be taking action. Individuals do not have to tell the head if they will be going on strike, nor do NUT reps have to provide names.

Do I have to inform my head/manager/principal that I am striking?

The legal obligation to inform the employer of trade union members taking strike action rests with the union. ATL centrally gave employers notice, in letters sent on 15 June, of the number of members in their workplace being called on to take industrial action. For community schools these letters will have been sent to the local authority; in all other cases these letters will have been sent to the head or principals. There is no obligation on individual members to tell their head or manager whether they intend to strike. Members who wish to do so as a matter of courtesy are recommended to do so collectively through their ATL or AMiE rep.

Any idea when parents will be advised if staff on strike. Not had any letters yet?

No obligation, but our headteacher agreed that was the case and asked nicely, so we all told him last week. It seemed the professional thing to do.

We sent letters home tonight

So, if the head teacher at dss' school will be aware a week before at the latest which teachers might be going on strike, surely parents ought to be informed at least a week before - ie by this Thursday - which teachers might be going out on strike, too????? It wouldn't make sense for a school not to inform parents that some of its teachers are members of the relevant unions, as to turn up to school with your child and be told to go away because their teacher is on strike and no-one is allowed to cover for them wouldn't do much for parental goodwill. I certainly support the right to strike and would go out on strike over the issue myself if I were a teacher, but I don't support the right not to tell anyone you're going to do it.

Why don't you phone the school and ask them? Then you'd know - unless its our school in which case we don't know whether we'll shut yet and I work there!
I wonder whether we are waiting to see if Unison strike as well on J20 because if they did then that would be all the site staff, catering staff and possibly ofiice staff. There would be no one to open the school or run it.

Our school sent letters home tonight. 8 out of the 9 class teachers are in the unions involved therefore their classes are closed. The head and the one other teacher are not in the unions involved therefore that one class will have to come in. The letter says that if negotiations happen and the strike is called off then they will advise further, closer to the time.

Quote from Dave prentis general secretary on Unison.

"If there's money for bailing out the banks... if there's money for war... then there's money for our public services,"

and this came in a leaflet from the NASUWT today-

The cost of providing tax relief on private pensions in 2007/08 was £37.6 billion, according to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) figures, almost ten times the net cost of the unfunded public sector pension schemes, which are not backed by an investment fund.
?
This tax relief is heavily skewed towards the better off. Treasury figures reveal that 60% of tax relief goes to higher rate taxpayers, including 25% ? nearly £10 billion a year ? going to the top 1% of earners, on more than £150,000 a year.
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One of the standard arguments from those who attack public sector pensions is to ask why modest taxpayers who do not have a pension should pay for the pensions of public sector workers.
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The reality is that taxpayers are spending £2.50 on reducing the tax bill of the top 1% of the population for every pound going towards providing a modest pension to retired nurses, teachers and all the other public sector staff who make a huge contribution to society.

Does that answer any questions?

Our head sent an email out to staff today with the advice posted by mrz - she had previously asked us to tell her whether or not we intended to strike, but hadn't had much response. We have no union reps at present, so I guess she's going to find it difficult to get her information - presumably the county reps will be able to inform her who is a member of their union if she contacts them? I'm NASUWT so I'm staying out of it at the moment. We've been told that school will be open for those who are not striking, but that she will make a decision and inform parents by Friday whether school is open for students. Secondary, so not as simple as some classes staying away.

Personally, I'm not that fussed about whether parents support us or not. I don't think Dave is going to be swayed one way or the other by supportive/non-supportive parents.

But management will only know that certain unions are going to strike, not which of their staff are in each union and then if any of them are going to ignore the union. Legally the individual teachers could just not come in on that day. But as Goblinchild says, many will tell their heads.

I am a parent and my ds's school is striking. I whole heartedly support them. I see no other way for them to negotiate the issues. They work harder than just being in the classroom from 9 - 3.15. I am currently doing volunteer work in a school and I see just how much work teachers do. Some often miss lunch and most work their Sundays doing preparation. And why? Because they care about the quality of teaching they deliver during 9 - 3:15. The hours they do behind the scenes are immence and they shouldn't then be dished a bum deal in pay and pension. I for one am glad that they care enough about my child and his education to put these hours in. Therefore I support them for 1 day to ensure they are treated properly. 1 day isn't exactly going to stunt my ds's (or anyone elses) learning.

And for those parents complaining about having to take time off, speak to other mums, I suspect you'll be able to find a kind SAHM that would take your child for the day.

One of the points of belonging to a union is that decisions like whether or not to strike cease to be personal, thereby removing any attempt by unscrupulous management to put pressure on individuals. The managment of a school should assume that all members of the striking unions (easily available from union reps/county reps) are going to strike and make their decision based on that.

No BoattoBolivia the two unions involved will have contacted the schools/LEA and informed them how many union members are employed in the school.

Then phone them and ask!

I have just got an email about the strike.

1. What do the teachers realistically want to get out of the strike.
2. Is this just a one off strike.
3. Where does the money that would have gone into teachers pay packets actually go? Does it go to small businesses that have to give time off to their employees as they need to take the day off to look after the kids?

Just finished reading the thread and wanted to add my wholehearted support to all teachers who will be striking, including those at DS school which will be closed next Thursday.

ouch

can you email them and ask?