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Original poster

Not many planning to strike?

23 replies

magicmummy1 · 22/06/2011 23:47

Sorry, I know there is another thread about the teacher's strike but it's long and I haven't read it all. I'm just curious and wondered if anyone could enlighten me!

I absolutely support the teacher's right to strike if they see fit, but was surprised to hear that only two of the teachers at our school will be participating in the industrial action on 30th (assuming it goes ahead). It's a fairly big school, about 20 teachers altogether, so I was surprised that there weren't a few more going out. Does this mean that the rest are all in the nasuwt, or are there lots of teachers out there who don't belong to any union? Presumably those in the unions that have voted for industrial action are essentially under a moral obligation to support it, aren't they?

Have to say, on a personal level, I'm relieved that dd won't be affected on this occasion, but surprised that the impact of the strikes isn't greater with two unions having voted to strike. But maybe that's just our school?

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Original poster
magicmummy1 · 22/06/2011 23:48

Teachers' not teacher's. Bloody iPhone!

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LawrieMarlow · 23/06/2011 00:03

I think that the ATL are less hardline on expecting all its members to strike; as it is the first time in something like 127 years that they have taken the decision to strike it is likely there are teachers who joined that union without the expectation of a strike being possible.

Not sure on the NUTs policies.

Or it could be there are lots of NASUWT members at your DDs school.

Original poster
magicmummy1 · 23/06/2011 00:12

Wow - I knew that the ATL hadn't voted to strike for a long time, but 127 years!! Its members obviously feel strongly about this issue!

But it sounds like you're saying that some ATL members may still choose not to strike. I hadn't realised that.

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LawrieMarlow · 23/06/2011 00:17

Don't quote me on it but I think that's the case. Could do with an ATL member to clarify. Probably does say in one of the other threads on the subject but they're getting a bit long for my phone!

LawrieMarlow · 23/06/2011 00:23

Have found this which says that "no one can compel you to take strike action" although looks like they very much hope ATL members will.

mrz · 23/06/2011 07:44

I'm in the ATL and didn't vote to strike but I will be on strike next week.

Elibean · 23/06/2011 08:51

magicmummy, same at dd's school. Only 2 teachers (potentially) striking, and wondered why.

IndigoBell · 23/06/2011 09:32

There are probably a lot of teachers in nasuwt.....

HarrietJones · 23/06/2011 09:35

Sometimes people join the same union as many others in their school. Or have a particularly active union in that school.

Dds school had a lot of NUT as did my friends school. Friends dd is off but the rest of her school are in.

Isitreally · 23/06/2011 11:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

puch · 23/06/2011 16:59

our school in shut completeley luckily so ds2 is off but luckily enough ds1 is on a school trip for a week and the teachers are still going on that.

wannaBe · 23/06/2011 17:05

there are lots of factors:

lots of teachers are nasuwt

only approximately 37% of NUT and ATL members actually voted for strike action (the turnout was approx 40%) which means that clearly many do not feel strongly enough about this to do so.

Hulababy · 23/06/2011 17:08

I think all the teachers in the relevent unions are striking at my school. This is about half the teachers. The classes are shut where the teacher is striking. The classes remain open where the teacher is at school and not striking (i.e NASUWT members for example.)

My class teacher is on strikebut I will still be ging in, albeit with no class.

mrz · 23/06/2011 17:19

Isitreally no union member is forced to strike but if you join a union you should be prepared to abide by decisions IMHO

Original poster
magicmummy1 · 23/06/2011 17:53

mrz, I agree - not much point in having a union if everyone does their own thing!

Sounds like it may just be coincidence that our school is relatively unaffected. Perhaps it will have to shut down completely if the nasuwt vote to strike later in the year!

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mrz · 23/06/2011 17:56

Only one member of our staff is in the NASUWT the rest are in the NUT or ATL (including members of the SMT - I'm one of them) so in theory we could have opened one class but the head too the decision to close.

Isitreally · 23/06/2011 18:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BusterGut · 23/06/2011 18:32

We're not striking as we don't want to piss the parents off by the inconvenience it inevitably causes. Not the way to foster sympathy in our opinion.

However, we are going to send out a letter explaining that this is the only reason we will be working, explaining the repercussions of the government's policies.

feckwit · 23/06/2011 18:36

Bustergut - did you vote against striking?

PotteringAlong · 23/06/2011 18:38

I think it depends on the mix of teachers - at my (secondary) school only a handful of staff happen to be NUT/ATL and there's a whole big bunch of us who are NASUWT

Fifis25StottieCakes · 23/06/2011 18:41

Our schools closed as there are not enough teachers left to run it safely. The other primarys closed as well. The senior is closed and some of the staff are not happy as they are loosing a days pay even though they are not striking. Our schools also shut on Monday as they are having a holiday in leiu from the royal wedding.

BusterGut · 23/06/2011 18:52

Actually I voted for it, because I want the government to invite the unions to the negotiating table (which was the original reason for strike action, after all).

At school we can't square the fact that pissing people off in a royal fashion will improve the public's opinion of public sector workers.

(Personally, I think it was a huge mistake to involve the TUC in this as well. It should have been a teachers' strike day to make the point. The fact that other unions are involved has totally muddied the waters.)

Original poster
magicmummy1 · 23/06/2011 19:05

It's a pity if people blame the teachers, bustergut. I doubt that many would take the decision to strike lightly.

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