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Original poster

Secondary teachers strike

242 replies

tocahairchop · 11/11/2022 11:10

Any other secondary teachers in Scotland who are not keen on strike action? I get the motives behind it but not at all up for striking at this point due to disruption and the fact that times are tough for everyone. Feel like I have to justify myself to non teachers by saying 'I don't agree with striking' as it's not going to be met favourably by the public in the same way as other sectors striking over pay.

OP posts:
TinyChancer · 03/12/2022 15:36

So the BBC confirms all schools in our LA are closed, but the schools themselves haven't told us.

Notplayingball · 03/12/2022 21:33

No idea still for the local authority area I am in, hopefully hear more on Monday.

Notplayingball · 05/12/2022 14:26

DC working remotely on Thursday. I am sure that they will be happy with that.

ExcuseeeeMe · 05/12/2022 15:47

Just heard from our school that all years will be in. If their teacher is striking the kids will have a responsible adult to take the class and the children will be asked to work on their own . I’m happy with that.

gawditswindy · 05/12/2022 19:31

ExcuseeeeMe · 05/12/2022 15:47

Just heard from our school that all years will be in. If their teacher is striking the kids will have a responsible adult to take the class and the children will be asked to work on their own . I’m happy with that.

But surely they're requiring the 'responsible adult' to be a scab then. It's a tricky one.

Invisimamma · 05/12/2022 20:23

gawditswindy · 05/12/2022 19:31

But surely they're requiring the 'responsible adult' to be a scab then. It's a tricky one.

Show quote history

Yeah our wraparound care didn't open during the last strike day because it would be undermining the strike (still charged us though), not fair to expect other school staff to do undermine striking colleagues.

ExcuseeeeMe · 05/12/2022 20:40

Yeah it certainly undermines the strike and they have just sent an email out saying that they might have to look after more than one class a time in the canteen if they can’t cover all the classes .

gawditswindy · 06/12/2022 19:23

That seems to be the answer: SLG will supervise the kids in the hall.

Emmm, wouldn't that make them scabs?

ExcuseeeeMe · 06/12/2022 22:48

I think it does but my son only has one teacher who is striking . So I think it’s a good solution . Why should he miss the entire day because one of his teachers strikes . I’m guessing the supervision will be similar to what they get at lunch time anyway. I guess it will be different to schools where a lot of the teachers are in the union. But our school is saying majority of teachers won’t be striking .

Whitestick · 06/12/2022 23:23

You can't know there's only one teacher striking. Teachers don't have to declare if they are striking or not. They can join the union up to the day before the strike and still strike. Some staff from other unions will refuse to cross a picket line, even though they'll lose pay and probably be disciplined for it.
The staff covering have a difficult decision to make. I know I wouldn't cover for a striking colleague.

Allsnotwell · 06/12/2022 23:38

I also would t cover for a teacher on strike we have been told not to cover duties or clubs etc for them either.

I hope they get the pay they deserve.

ExcuseeeeMe · 07/12/2022 23:35

So the strike seemed to have minimal disruption at our school today . My son missed only one class and they sat in the canteen and were told to play on phones or chat . Lots of his friends missed no classes at all.

Onthecuspofabreakthrough · 08/12/2022 12:52

Totally different at my son's school, which is closed.
just depends on numbers in that union, I suppose

Original poster
tocahairchop · 09/01/2023 20:19

So the strikes will go ahead as planned this week...wonder if anything will be agreed by the time the rolling authority ones start 🤞More teachers are going in anyway in my school on Wednesday. Can see the numbers striking going down as the strikes days go on...

OP posts:
gawditswindy · 09/01/2023 20:41

Scab numbers go up. But they'll take the pay rise.

MistressIggi · 09/01/2023 22:33

OP you must be able to understand that a gradual tailing off of striking staff is h to e worst possible outcome.
Do you actually not want a pay rise?

Original poster
tocahairchop · 10/01/2023 07:01

@MistressIggi I didn't say I was going in (I'm not) but interested to hear that more colleagues are going in tomorrow. My friend was telling me that at her tiny primary school all of the staff went in during the last strike...doesn't look great to the parents if nothing else but their choice I guess.

OP posts:
ProseccoOnIce · 10/01/2023 07:15

Apparently at my children's primary school they are doing a picket line - find that a bit weird considering it is closed.

Unless it's to intimidate the staff who are going in?

A bit of a joke, really.

NewYearNewCareer · 10/01/2023 07:56

Local school picketed last time. I think they should be seen as a reminder to all who pass by. Don’t see it as an issue.

There no intimidation - those who go to work are sat doing very little as the kids aren’t in anyway.

ProseccoOnIce · 10/01/2023 08:07

There's no passers-by on our local school as it's in a quiet cul-de-sac & they are only picketing for 30 mins 8.30-9.00.

And aren't teachers supposed to be so stressed & busy that they would have lots of work/preparation/paperwork/PDP they could fill a day with?

MistressIggi · 10/01/2023 08:10

That would be strike-breaking, Prosecco. Nice try though.

NewYearNewCareer · 10/01/2023 08:21

Support staff aren’t striking and are in, they have been asked not to cover any teacher duties. They aren’t breaking the strike.

MistressIggi · 10/01/2023 08:27

I should have quoted - I was responding to the post that feigned surprise that teachers weren't using a strike day to catch up on all their work.

ProseccoOnIce · 10/01/2023 08:31

@MistressIggi - I was meaning the ones who weren't striking. I know a fair few.

MistressIggi · 10/01/2023 08:35

Ah, well if not striking most regions expect you to provide online learning of some kind (even if no pupils come on to do it!) but otherwise then yes, they can work on whatever needs doing. For pay, unlike people who are making a stand.