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Primary education

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Original poster

Managing school strikes

198 replies

mamnotmum · 21/04/2023 12:28

Just had an email from school to say they are shut next Thursday for strikes and will update us soon about a strike on 2 May.

It's not that I don't support the teachers but there is no way my employer is going to give me a day off with less than a weeks notice (paid or unpaid) and I can not work from home/bring my child to work.

I realise some people have grandparents / friends but is anyone else finding it increasingly difficult to manage?

OP posts:
TheCrystalPalace · 21/04/2023 17:29

@Okunevo was talking about primary.

sylvandweller · 21/04/2023 17:29

@mamnotmum

Have you spoken to your employer about this specific issue?

Aishah231 · 21/04/2023 17:30

Blahdeblahaha · 21/04/2023 12:36

Not a chance. The only thing I support is the school getting more money for resources...but not for teachers pay/pensions above what they have already been offered...and whilst previous threads have gone on about the only thing teachers can strike over is pay...I fail to understand if that is the case, how striking helps get more money for resources.

Show quote history

Why should teachers have to accept another two years of pay cuts after the best part of 15 years of pay cuts? If you want good teachers you have to pay at least a reasonable wage. I've reached the point now where I am starting to look elsewhere and have found that after tax etc is taken into consideration I could get a low skilled less stressful jobs with less hours and not be much worse off each month. I get good results and work hard but I refuse to accept a further lowering of my wage.

Okunevo · 21/04/2023 17:33

TheCrystalPalace · 21/04/2023 17:29

@Okunevo was talking about primary.

I know they can't get cover teachers in of course, but what's wrong with the current staff covering another class so it impacts two classes in a year group rather than the one repeatedly?

annieannietomjoe · 21/04/2023 17:35

Look for cover care...we have managed to find a club running the school day so there may be an option for you.

ticktickticktickBOOM · 21/04/2023 17:35

How would teacher feel if their wage increased but they were contracted to work 52 weeks per year, with 5 weeks paid holiday, like the majority of us?

Then there would be no 'well I work during my half terms' to worry about. They would be working during school holidays like the rest of us and therefore could spread their planning/marking accordingly. Problem solved?

TheCrystalPalace · 21/04/2023 17:37

Most teachers would (or should) refuse to do that. The strikes fall where they fall. In the same way, anything already scheduled for a strike day, e.g. parent consultations, shouldn't be re-timetabled.

cantkeepawayforever · 21/04/2023 17:39

A teacher covering for a striking teacher by taking their class is effectively strike breaking.

Even in secondaries where some year groups are ‘prioritised’, this is often ‘prioritised for sitting in the hall supervised by SLT / support staff and doing generic online work unless their normal teacher is not striking’.

TheCrystalPalace · 21/04/2023 17:39

@ticktickticktickBOOM Well, no, it doesn't work like that.
For a start, how on earth can I mark work done in June during August? Or plan for a week in October at the end of July?
Also, the Government REALLY couldn't/wouldn't afford to pay all teachers for those additional weeks.

MrsHamlet · 21/04/2023 17:40

Okunevo · 21/04/2023 17:33

I know they can't get cover teachers in of course, but what's wrong with the current staff covering another class so it impacts two classes in a year group rather than the one repeatedly?

Show quote history

We don't cover striking colleagues.

MrsHamlet · 21/04/2023 17:41

ticktickticktickBOOM · 21/04/2023 17:35

How would teacher feel if their wage increased but they were contracted to work 52 weeks per year, with 5 weeks paid holiday, like the majority of us?

Then there would be no 'well I work during my half terms' to worry about. They would be working during school holidays like the rest of us and therefore could spread their planning/marking accordingly. Problem solved?

Great.
How are you covering year 11 and 13 when I'm on my holiday which I can now take when I like?

cantkeepawayforever · 21/04/2023 17:43

ticktickticktickBOOM · 21/04/2023 17:35

How would teacher feel if their wage increased but they were contracted to work 52 weeks per year, with 5 weeks paid holiday, like the majority of us?

Then there would be no 'well I work during my half terms' to worry about. They would be working during school holidays like the rest of us and therefore could spread their planning/marking accordingly. Problem solved?

For the vast nanority of teachers, that would be a oay increase with very little change in conditions, so would be an improvement. The weeks when children are not in school would be working from home - as we currently do for those periods. Would you suggest that teachers gave the flexibility to take holiday at dates if their choosing, or inly when the schools are physically closed to pupils?

(5 weeks of actual holiday, absolutely no work, paid for the unpaid work we do in the rest of the weeks schools are closed to pupils? - sounds bliss)

PotteringAlonggotkickedoutandhadtoreregister · 21/04/2023 17:46

@ticktickticktickBOOM If they offered me that I would rip their arm off! I hope it’s not too disruptive to year 11 and year 13 when I want to be off during their exams though for the much cheaper holidays I can now embrace…

cantkeepawayforever · 21/04/2023 17:54

I think tickticktock’s suggestion would be a 8 additional weeks of pay with 5 weeks of true holiday to be taken at any time and with wfh while schools are closed to pupils? That would definitely be something many would support - but would the Government pay for it?

It’s a significant percentage uplift: currently paid for 44 weeks (39 plus 5 weeks of holiday) so I think it’s about 18% increase on current pay?

ticktickticktickBOOM · 21/04/2023 17:56

Just like the rest of us, holidays are at your line managers discretion and can only be taken when there is adequate cover. This happens in almost every sector. I'm sure there could be supply teaching for the times teachers want a week off mid term. If a teacher chose to take time off during exams that would like me taking time off during our busiest periods - your prerogative but also landing the rest of the team in it which doesn't show much commitment or comradery. We all make these choices.

Most of us have to save our annual leave for school holidays anyway. We only get 25 days, there are 60 days schools holidays. Plus strikes now. We lose money left right and centre. I've frequently had to take 'unpaid parental leave' during school holiday meaning I lose a quarter of my wages for sometimes 2 months per year.

There's no clear answer. If you have children, teaching is one of the only professions where you get school holidays off, even if you have to work a few of those days it's nothing like having to work an extra 35 days during school holidays.

I think it's the stress that's the real problem. Not the pay. The pay isn't too bad all things considered.

MrsHamlet · 21/04/2023 17:58

I think it's the stress that's the real problem. Not the pay. The pay isn't too bad all things considered.

We can't strike about stress

cantkeepawayforever · 21/04/2023 18:00

even if you have to work a few of those days it's nothing like having to work an extra 35 days during school holidays.

Hahahahahaha.

Over a year, as a primary teacher, I work well over 35 days when I am not in school. (Every Sunday in term time, as a starter)

ticktickticktickBOOM · 21/04/2023 18:01

MrsHamlet · 21/04/2023 17:58

I think it's the stress that's the real problem. Not the pay. The pay isn't too bad all things considered.

We can't strike about stress

I know you can't. But that IS the real issue isn't it? Ofsted prep, paperwork, admin and all the social work teachers are expected to do. If you were able to be paid for 52 weeks per year that would spread the admin side of things surely?

Blahdeblahaha · 21/04/2023 18:04

@cantkeepawayforever if that were the case then that would put you 4-5th out of the comparable graduate jobs on the list of 10 according to the nasuwt document...with the added benefit of a guaranteed pension income.

ticktickticktickBOOM · 21/04/2023 18:04

cantkeepawayforever · 21/04/2023 18:00

even if you have to work a few of those days it's nothing like having to work an extra 35 days during school holidays.

Hahahahahaha.

Over a year, as a primary teacher, I work well over 35 days when I am not in school. (Every Sunday in term time, as a starter)

Well you must be doing something wrong because all my close circle of friends are primary and secondary school teachers (about 12 in total) and none of them work weekends. Perhaps the odd half hour here but most conscientious workers do that anyway. Mind you they all have at least 25 years experience so I guess they've got it nailed.

cantkeepawayforever · 21/04/2023 18:04

Which bits of school admin do you think can be done when pupils are not present?

MrsHamlet · 21/04/2023 18:06

ticktickticktickBOOM · 21/04/2023 18:01

I know you can't. But that IS the real issue isn't it? Ofsted prep, paperwork, admin and all the social work teachers are expected to do. If you were able to be paid for 52 weeks per year that would spread the admin side of things surely?

Show quote history

No, it wouldn't.
I have to mark today's books before next lesson. I have to plan next lesson based on today's work.
The data that I need to put in next week relies on my having kept records as I go.
I need to deal with behaviour issues as and when they come up.
I can't save any of those jobs for another time.

noblegiraffe · 21/04/2023 18:06

Today I heard parents annoyed that their kid's class was to be open on the strike days as it ballsed up their plans for a really long weekend.

PickleOfAConundrum · 21/04/2023 18:07

Our schools strike next Wednesday for the full day

ticktickticktickBOOM · 21/04/2023 18:09

cantkeepawayforever · 21/04/2023 18:04

Which bits of school admin do you think can be done when pupils are not present?

marking, report writing, planning, assessing . . . loads actually. You're not suggesting you mark and write reports during class time when you are supposed to be engaging with pupils? The teachers at my sons primary all got 2 afternoons per week out of class time also to do this. Perhaps his school was particularly good at giving teachers extra time but I don't think so - regular comp in a deprived area . . .