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Original poster

Teachers on strike - do they usually name names?

413 replies

hester · 20/06/2011 17:35

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?

OP posts:
mrz · 21/06/2011 19:05
  1. The government to keep their promises
  2. It depends on the government's response
  3. It stays in the school's budget to buy things for your child
BoattoBolivia · 21/06/2011 19:06

Yes I know Mrz, but there could still be individuals in those unions who choose not to strike. My dh is vice chair of dd's school governing body and had this conversation last night. They may know numbers in the union, but not specifically who that is. They have taken the angle that Goblinchild's school have...be nice and supportive, and hope that the teachers will let them know. Dh had the moral dilemma as he is a civil servant whose union is also striking, but he doesn't work Thursdays. He wanted to offer to go into school as a Governor and help the Head with logistics, until someone pointed out that he was supposed to be on strike!

sleepwouldbenice · 21/06/2011 19:08

I asked last week and was told no decision yet, just meetings about it. I was trying to work out when would be a realistic time to ask again..

mrz · 21/06/2011 19:09

but unless those individual choose to tell their head he/she won't know until Thursday so has to assume they are striking.

rabbitstew · 21/06/2011 19:11

Re Unison, I don't think any more unions can go out on strike on the 30th, now, can they - there has to be a minimum notice period.

bitsyandbetty · 21/06/2011 19:12

What about all the kids that arrive by bus? My two go by coach. Would they just be sent home? Would somebody be able to look after them for the striking teacher until parents arrive. Not an issue for us as school not closing but it may be a concern for others. Personally I would have to let people know I am striking as I would feel awful to leave it to the last minute. By the way the Govt has just announced higher rate tax relief likely to go. Currently being reviewed. Tactical, me thinks, having seen the NASWT details.

EvilTwins · 21/06/2011 19:13

HTs should assume everyone is striking, where it comes to making decisions about closing schools. HTs are not supposed to ask individuals what they are planning to do about a strike - the union acts as a whole - that is one of the points of unions.

EvilTwins · 21/06/2011 19:15

bitsy - a HT will be able to make a decision about closing the school in advance, based on how many staff are members of NUT and/or ATL. If teachers then decide not to strike, a school might find it has more teachers than it thought it would, IYSWIM, but the decision about whether or not to close really ought to be based on how many members there are, rather than a decision by individuals. So the situation you describe should never arise.

BoattoBolivia · 21/06/2011 19:18

I know they should assume everyone is striking and they should know how many that is BUT, they still don't know who those individuals are therefore which classes are affected.

EvilTwins · 21/06/2011 19:19

They can get a list of who is in which union from either the school rep or the county rep for the unions. I've said that three times now.

mrz · 21/06/2011 19:20

There are a number of unions taking action on the 30th - NUT & ATL are teaching unions UCU, RMT and PCS also have strikes planned for the day

BoattoBolivia · 21/06/2011 19:24

I know you have eviltwins, but I don't think the rep is supposed to give that information out. I suppose it stops individuals being pressurised by unscrupulous heads. It really is up to the individual teachers to let the head know, if they feel so inclined.

Feenie · 21/06/2011 19:25

UCU is a teaching union also - a lecturers' one. (DH is a member). We are both on strike that day and my school/his college are both shut - but ds's school remains open except for 4 classes.

mrz · 21/06/2011 19:28

Reps do not have to give the names of members who are striking/not striking only the number of members who work in the school. All our staff told the head last week what we would be doing because he is supportive and we have a good working relationship but this won't be the same in all schools.

Elibean · 21/06/2011 19:31

Our Head sent a note out today saying the school would remain open. There are a maximum of 2 teachers possibly striking, no one is using names.

BoattoBolivia · 21/06/2011 19:31

Thank you Mrz, just what I was trying to say, but as usual ,you say it better!Grin

EvilTwins · 21/06/2011 19:32

Boatto - in which case, the HT has to make the decision based on the number of absent staff. I guess that if the majority of staff are striking, even if they head doesn't know who they are, the logical conclusion would be to close the school.

Strikes are supposed to be disruptive Wink

BoattoBolivia · 21/06/2011 19:35

I know, evil twins, part of me is gutted that I have never had to stand by my principals and strike - the odd occasion when my union has been involved, it has always been a day I wasn't working anyway.bi suppose I'd better start offering myself as childcare to some of dd's friends, just in case.

cupofteaplease · 21/06/2011 19:51

My HT rang me earlier and asked me if I would be striking. I didn't really have a choice not to answer! I just said yes, as I am a member of NUT. She didn't sound happy and declared that was all the teaching staff striking so we'd have to close the school to pupils. As if one teacher not striking could keep the whole school open!!

BoattoBolivia · 21/06/2011 19:55

cupoftea [shocked] ask her if she enjoyed her lunch breaks when she was a class teacher, or would she rather teachers hadn't striked?struck? In the eighties for them?

BoattoBolivia · 21/06/2011 19:56

Sorry, that should be Shock

clam · 21/06/2011 20:11

Nothing has been said in my school about this. Apparently the Head told the Governors last week that only two teachers (out of 20) were in the relevant unions. This is rubbish because I know of 9 of us who have gossiped spoken of our intention to strike.
No letter to parents, no mention in staff meetings. God knows what will happen but I'm wondering if management might try to wangle TAs covering classes? Illegal, I know, but...

BoattoBolivia · 21/06/2011 20:16

clam it's stories like that that make me realise what good heads I've worked for. They have all always said, if the union votes to jump,you jump and it is the Head's job to deal with it.

feckwit · 21/06/2011 20:24

My children's schools have said nothing yet either. I do support teachers but find it a little galling that many other people have been hard hit by this government and just have to suck it up! One of my children asked his teacher and he apparently said he didn't think anyone was striking in their school (6 teachers plus head and TAs.

Grockle · 21/06/2011 20:40

My friend asked at DS's school today what was happening next Thursday and the teacher got all flustered, said she didn't know and shut the door in my friend's face Shock. She's asked me to ask tomorrow!

My school have informed senior management who is striking so that parents can be informed but I don't know when the letter will go out. Soon, I hope.