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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:
SirChenjins · 28/02/2023 21:08

WhereAreMyAirpods · 28/02/2023 20:11

@Elmo22 it was confirmed last week that teachers striking last week in the targetted action in 4 constituencies WERE GETTING PAID by the union.

Teachers on national action today/tomorrow are not being paid.

I’d like to know what % are on national action compared to those who are still going into school to do admin and claiming a salary - do you have a figure for that at all?

Shelefttheweb · 28/02/2023 21:20

Flossieflamingo · 28/02/2023 20:04

@MountedbyHarryWindsor The home learning was in reference to information put out via social media by the Scottish government in regard to online resources for learning. Mostly aimed at senior phase pupils, I think.

What resources? And why by social media? All senior phase pupils have email addresses that they can be contacted by that councils have access to. Why not email them? None of the senior phase pupils I know know anything about this.

FiftyNotNifty · 28/02/2023 21:45

SirChenjins · 28/02/2023 21:08

I’d like to know what % are on national action compared to those who are still going into school to do admin and claiming a salary - do you have a figure for that at all?

Show quote history

I would like to know this too.
I am a reluctantly striking teacher, going into debt to cover it.
But so many of my colleagues are in getting paid.

WhereAreMyAirpods · 28/02/2023 21:53

I have a senior phase child - S6. We had an email from the Council which said:

"We understand this is a very challenging time for our young people in both Bearsden Academy and Douglas Academy. During the targeted strike days, we would direct our young people to West OS, SQA past papers and the National e-Learning resources."

So not online learning or specific lessons. More a "here's a wee reminder of some online stuff". Sent to parents.

Badbudgeter · 28/02/2023 21:54

I got an email with a link to the e-learning today. Also I went past the local primary school. The car park was 2/3rds full.

123rainbow · 01/03/2023 07:13

The children have already missed so much learning after the covid lock downs. This will have a big impact on their mental health, they are expected to do much online. Some parents do have the time or knowledge to help them.

MountedbyHarryWindsor · 01/03/2023 07:40

I think the more parents who email their MSPs about SQA exams, the better, otherwise I'm just one lone voice. I really think the less teaching days should be considered, even if a pay deal is struck before the actual exams.

tigger1001 · 01/03/2023 07:49

Flossieflamingo · 28/02/2023 19:31

Any sympathy I had is gone. Pupils are stressed, courses won’t be finished - they just didn’t need this after the covid years. The people being punished most in all of this are pupils, they have no vote. My
son now thinks that teachers don’t care about their pupils. Sad times. I am feeling pretty angry about this today.

Said more eloquently than I did but 100% agree. I really feel for kids heading into exam season.

I am lucky in that my kids are both at secondary school so I don't need time off to look after them, but see the issues that crop up at work at trying to accommodate time off/working from home, especially as we have parents from 3 or 4 different council areas so the days are spread out. Plus also areas that have had targeted days too.

jumpinsback · 01/03/2023 09:09

I don't know how many teachers at my school are in the SSTA and therefore not striking but I don't think that accounts for as many cars that are in the car park today...when I signed in I had to go to page three of the sign in sheet, not even in a big secondary school. Think everyone has had enough Confused

VioletLemon · 01/03/2023 16:39

LoopyGremlin · 25/02/2023 03:11

The SSTA seem to have accepted the deal and suspended the strike. Although the statement is quite vague as it reads that industrial action will start again if a better offer isn't received. But why would a better deal come if members have accepted?

It's a small union though so it won't make any difference to schools opening next week.

SSTA didn't accept deal, but paused action while negotiations were promised.

VioletLemon · 01/03/2023 16:51

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?

The Union (EIS) THAT brought the unballoted targeted action is paying all striking teachers from their funds.

Staggie · 01/03/2023 17:24

No they're not. Only the targeted strikes in certain constituencies.

VioletLemon · 01/03/2023 17:29

WhereAreMyAirpods · 23/02/2023 18:19

www.gov.scot/news/improved-pay-offer-for-teachers/

This was the offer not even being put to members. 6% this year. 5.5% next.

I have filled in the survey too, I am very angry that my children are being targeted in this way. And the fact that that teachers aren't losing pay while my children are losing education is just so, so wrong.

That's incorrect. The offer is for last year and then this current year.

WhereAreMyAirpods · 01/03/2023 17:32

Teacher acquaintance of mine posting on social media what a terrific day she's had out and about in the countryside.

Having to sit on my hands to stop myself posting that this is not what strike action is about. A wee bit of unpaid leave to go gadding about.

VioletLemon · 01/03/2023 17:34

SirChenjins · 23/02/2023 20:42

But not at every school, I imagine? And are teachers who have decided not to strike and don’t want to cross a picket line working from home? Working at another site that has no picket line? Taking home their pay but not providing the education they’re paid to provide?

Sympathy is wearing very, very thin.

Show quote history

Teachers in different unions to EIS have to sign in at local academy then fulfill contractual obligations in school if their head teacher is in the HT union that accepted the deal. EIS members take part in the targeted action in MSP constituencies. Last 2 days were the pre arranged national action days. Working from home or going to a different location is not an option.

VioletLemon · 01/03/2023 17:37

BannMan · 24/02/2023 09:54

Yes from the unions pint of view. But it would be at school level so nothing to do with the union if a primary school were notifying 6 classes at 8.45 that their teachers were working that day.

Show quote history

Which school or local authority gave 15 minutes notice school was open or closed?

VioletLemon · 01/03/2023 17:44

WhereAreMyAirpods · 24/02/2023 10:31

Yes - and please correct me if I'm wrong - but I am pretty sure that staff cannot be asked to cover for striking colleagues even if in a different union. So school (and it's pretty clear that the PP uses that word to refer to management, the council, the Scot Gov) cannot ask members of the SSTA or the Head Teachers union to cover classes for striking EIS members.

I was at school in the 80s the last time there were major strikes. In S5 and doing Highers. When the EIS was off, we would get a list of classes where the teachers were not EIS and would be in. So you'd be expected to go in for first two periods double English, then back in the afternoon for French or whatever. That is not happening. The SSTA teachers are also being paid to sit in their offices at schools doing admin or whatever as the kids aren't in. As are the admin staff, the jannies, the teaching assistants.

Show quote history

Non striking members are routinely asked to cover striking teachers classes. The teacher being asked can refuse on the grounds of collegiate support but there's nothing to stop a HT asking someone to cover a striking colleagues class, and they do.

VioletLemon · 01/03/2023 17:48

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

WhereAreMyAirpods · 01/03/2023 17:55

But not at every school, I imagine? And are teachers who have decided not to strike and don’t want to cross a picket line working from home?

My friend is a TA. Her school is closed and locked. She has to report to another local school. She takes her knitting and a book and basically just sits there all day as there's nothing for her to be getting on with.

thatstaplerismine · 01/03/2023 19:51

WhereAreMyAirpods · 01/03/2023 17:32

Teacher acquaintance of mine posting on social media what a terrific day she's had out and about in the countryside.

Having to sit on my hands to stop myself posting that this is not what strike action is about. A wee bit of unpaid leave to go gadding about.

Hang on, what are you expecting people to do on a strike day? I'm a striking teacher and I went out for a walk too. I'm not getting paid so I can do what want.

Motheranddaughter · 01/03/2023 20:04

Yes you can do what you want
But posting it on Social Media is not a great look

Shelefttheweb · 01/03/2023 20:10

thatstaplerismine · 01/03/2023 19:51

Hang on, what are you expecting people to do on a strike day? I'm a striking teacher and I went out for a walk too. I'm not getting paid so I can do what want.

Show quote history

Not gloat about what you got up to when as a result of your actions there are teenagers In tears worried about their futures as they have not been taught all the coursework for their exams.

MountedbyHarryWindsor · 01/03/2023 20:47

maybe think about parents who get lower pay and less holidays than you do, and now have to spend more on childcare for strike days and tutors for exams to cover what hasn't been taught in class?
When the council budgets are announced, don't fucking complain about how it affects you, e.g more council tax, when your pay demands contributed to it.

SirChenjins · 01/03/2023 22:08

WhereAreMyAirpods · 01/03/2023 17:55

But not at every school, I imagine? And are teachers who have decided not to strike and don’t want to cross a picket line working from home?

My friend is a TA. Her school is closed and locked. She has to report to another local school. She takes her knitting and a book and basically just sits there all day as there's nothing for her to be getting on with.

What a shame she couldn’t do what she’s actually getting paid to do.

Shelefttheweb · 02/03/2023 00:09

SirChenjins · 01/03/2023 22:08

What a shame she couldn’t do what she’s actually getting paid to do.

Show quote history

Given the cuts schools are going to have to absorb, and they are not allowed to cut teachers, she may well find she is not paid to do that job much longer.

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