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Welcome to Scotsnet - discuss all aspects of life in Scotland, including relocating, schools and local areas.

Original poster

Scottish teachers strikes

591 replies

museumum · 28/01/2023 10:57

How have other Scots found the teachers strikes?
I’m seeing a lot of stress from English parents I know on Fb as well as on mn but it seems to me in my bit of Scotland parents have said “fair dos” to the teachers and just got in with things/arrangements quietly.

I’m not sure this is necessarily good for the teachers cause….

interested to hear from other Scots around the country….?

OP posts:
Boisey · 21/02/2023 12:48

In Ireland sorry. The pay cuts were made in irekabd

NKat40 · 21/02/2023 22:49

Absolute nonsense regarding qualifications of teachers. As a teacher myself and several colleagues are educated to Masters or PHD level. They would all say research was an absolute breeze compared to teaching. Certainly never assaulted regularly, threatened, or made to work endless hours unpaid when working in an office doing research! And not to mention the emotional baggage that is virtually impossible to leave at the door and it's affect on mental well being

Shelefttheweb · 21/02/2023 23:14

NKat40 · 21/02/2023 22:49

Absolute nonsense regarding qualifications of teachers. As a teacher myself and several colleagues are educated to Masters or PHD level. They would all say research was an absolute breeze compared to teaching. Certainly never assaulted regularly, threatened, or made to work endless hours unpaid when working in an office doing research! And not to mention the emotional baggage that is virtually impossible to leave at the door and it's affect on mental well being

The fact you have a masters or a PhD is irrelevant if do not require these qualifications for the job. For PhD and MSc qualifications you are also the student not an employee. Having said that, I don’t know any PhD student who has not spent hours and hours doing unpaid research and often very long hours - that is pretty much the definition of a PhD student!

FinnRussell · 21/02/2023 23:18

NKat40 · 21/02/2023 22:49

Absolute nonsense regarding qualifications of teachers. As a teacher myself and several colleagues are educated to Masters or PHD level. They would all say research was an absolute breeze compared to teaching. Certainly never assaulted regularly, threatened, or made to work endless hours unpaid when working in an office doing research! And not to mention the emotional baggage that is virtually impossible to leave at the door and it's affect on mental well being

Calling bullshit on this.

Firstly, your grammar is terrible for a teacher with a PHD or similar.

Secondly, having those qualifications aren't a pre-requisite and therefore shouldn't be part of any discussion on pay. Being overqualified happens in every industry.

switchin100 · 22/02/2023 06:54

I don't agree at all with these strikes targeting politicians constituencies...how unfair. The teachers won't lose pay so who is losing out? The pupils, once again (and their parents)

Badbudgeter · 22/02/2023 09:03

switchin100 · 22/02/2023 06:54

I don't agree at all with these strikes targeting politicians constituencies...how unfair. The teachers won't lose pay so who is losing out? The pupils, once again (and their parents)

I have to agree. My children will be missing 8 days of school over the next 3 weeks. I’ll be missing work. It’s just really difficult. In all honestly the children of affluent families all go to private schools locally so it’s just us plebs being affected.

scunnerednurse · 22/02/2023 11:41

I was horrified to hear about the targeting of action particularly in Nicola sturgeons constituency. It’s a hugely deprived area with all the child protection issues that go with it. This will impact the children far more than it will within more affluent areas.
I’m looking forward to a bonus day with my children next week. I don’t agree with the strike action as I’ve previously stated, and I certainly will not be voting in the RCN consultation on pay until the last minute till I see what teachers get offered.

Shelefttheweb · 22/02/2023 14:51

scunnerednurse · 22/02/2023 11:41

I was horrified to hear about the targeting of action particularly in Nicola sturgeons constituency. It’s a hugely deprived area with all the child protection issues that go with it. This will impact the children far more than it will within more affluent areas.
I’m looking forward to a bonus day with my children next week. I don’t agree with the strike action as I’ve previously stated, and I certainly will not be voting in the RCN consultation on pay until the last minute till I see what teachers get offered.

I guess the other way of looking at it is it reduces the impact on children who are in areas where annoyed parents can’t pressurise politicians in power.

Badbudgeter · 22/02/2023 21:28

I really don’t think I have much power as an annoyed parent. Best I’ll get is an email saying the unions behaviour is disgraceful and discriminatory a la bbc news.

I thought it was a fairly reasonable offer. More than I’ll be getting. I’ve now had to book all the strike days off which I’m quite fucked off about. So if I was to write an email I’d be suggesting they offer less.

Shelefttheweb · 22/02/2023 21:56

Badbudgeter · 22/02/2023 21:28

I really don’t think I have much power as an annoyed parent. Best I’ll get is an email saying the unions behaviour is disgraceful and discriminatory a la bbc news.

I thought it was a fairly reasonable offer. More than I’ll be getting. I’ve now had to book all the strike days off which I’m quite fucked off about. So if I was to write an email I’d be suggesting they offer less.

I agree with you. Just thinking the logic of targeted strikes.

ShakinSteven · 22/02/2023 22:16

Badbudgeter · 22/02/2023 21:28

I really don’t think I have much power as an annoyed parent. Best I’ll get is an email saying the unions behaviour is disgraceful and discriminatory a la bbc news.

I thought it was a fairly reasonable offer. More than I’ll be getting. I’ve now had to book all the strike days off which I’m quite fucked off about. So if I was to write an email I’d be suggesting they offer less.

I agree. The only email I'm tempted to write is to the EIS.

WhereAreMyAirpods · 23/02/2023 08:05

I am the child of two teachers (now both retired) and have a DD who is currently in S6 and applying to BEd courses with the view of being a primary school teacher. I am hugely supportive of teachers in general.

However, I have become much less supportive of the EIS in recent years. During the pandemic, that Flanagan man seriously seemed to think he was in charge, dictating to the government what would and would not happen in schools. And the pay agreement (which was 6% one year and 5% the next, right?) should absolutely have been put to the membership to vote on, not rejected outright.

So as it stands, my kids are missing 3 days this week, 2 days next week, and 3 days the week after that. Not impressed.

ProseccoOnIce · 23/02/2023 09:15

I think the public are fast losing sympathy with the strikes - the unions have massively misjudged this.

Most people do support teachers & think they are doing a good job, but their "plight" is not unique & the union demands are too high.

switchin100 · 23/02/2023 10:57

Having seen our pay slips today and how much we have lost for two days strike the consensus in our school is...we are coming in next week!

WhereAreMyAirpods · 23/02/2023 11:00

Are the teachers who are taking part in the targeted action not a bit pissed off that they are being asked to give up more salary than colleagues?

switchin100 · 23/02/2023 13:00

I think they are not missing out pay for those additional days

Badbudgeter · 23/02/2023 13:39

EIS will pay strike pay to teachers/ members who strike in targeted areas. There’s a form online.

Fundays12 · 23/02/2023 13:48

switchin100 · 23/02/2023 10:57

Having seen our pay slips today and how much we have lost for two days strike the consensus in our school is...we are coming in next week!

Apologies I am genuinely curious but all our schools in region have already been confirmed as closed as a pre emptive measure but would teachers still go in and do planning etc? So are some in school and some not? I am assuming those who strike that day don't get paid and you get paid if you go in.

Badbudgeter · 23/02/2023 16:21

you’re not allowed to ask employees if they are union members or if they will be striking so all the teachers could be in. Who knows ?

Michellexxx · 23/02/2023 16:25

Fundays12 · 23/02/2023 13:48

Apologies I am genuinely curious but all our schools in region have already been confirmed as closed as a pre emptive measure but would teachers still go in and do planning etc? So are some in school and some not? I am assuming those who strike that day don't get paid and you get paid if you go in.

Show quote history

The school is still open for non striking teachers. You sign in and then get on with work.

switchin100 · 23/02/2023 16:27

Teachers can go in and do planning etc yes. More and more at my school doing this due to loss of pay if guy strike. I would have taken the revised pay offer if consulted

SirChenjins · 23/02/2023 17:03

Are there picket lines outside schools as there were outside NHS premises?

Badbudgeter · 23/02/2023 17:18

SirChenjins · 23/02/2023 17:03

Are there picket lines outside schools as there were outside NHS premises?

Maybe some schools, none at the local primary / secondary although both are on strike today. I think the targeted strikes have been really unpopular. People are blaming the union rather than the government. Teacher friends all say they’d of accepted the last offer.

possibly to avoid being unpopular with friends who are struggling with childcare etc.

Felici · 23/02/2023 17:21

None at our schools either.

Primary half a mile down the road open today.

kids bored, parents stressed. Totally lost any sympathy. It's not even on the bbc Scotland news website.

Same again tomorrow. For what?

WhereAreMyAirpods · 23/02/2023 17:27

SirChenjins · 23/02/2023 17:03

Are there picket lines outside schools as there were outside NHS premises?

Picketing at Bearsden Academy yesterday, they were on the news. Picketing today outside the MSP's office in Milngavie.

Car park fairly full at local Primary today, at least two thirds of teachers in, I'd say.