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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:
tigger1001 · 25/09/2023 06:32

"DS said to me the other day what's the point of a prelim if you can't appeal your grade with it. I see what he means. Where's the incentive for these kids to do well in exams? No grade to fall back on."

Exactly. This happened to my eldest in the summer. Got a B in both the prelims the school did but had a nightmare in the actual exam. It just created more frustration for him as he knew the subject but couldn't appeal.

Michellexxx · 25/09/2023 10:31

The prelim isn’t a fallback option..it’s a tool to use to check progress and see where issues are. Often the whole course hasn’t been taught yet, so it isn’t always demonstrating the ful picture.

The exam results awarded during the covid years are laughable- huge numbers of students are dropping out.

The motivation is the same as it has always been- the work is directed towards the exam and you study and try your best all year. If a pupils struggles with their own motivation, that’s no reason for a teacher to collect fall back options. The blame culture really doesn’t help.

Procrastinatiostation · 26/09/2023 16:25

It perhaps isnt a popular view, but I've ran out of patience with the strikes. There is a wide disparity in abilities and backgrounds at DC's school and those that suffer the most are the children and parents least able to afford to take a day off work or who rely on school for a safe, warm environment. The latest offer percentage wise isn't bad, just short of 10% is far more than most of the general public can hope to get.

I also found it pretty grating this morning driving past the local primary school where the staff on the picket line were giggling and cheering as cars tooted at them. In contrast I spent much of this morning close to tears, while I cancelled a much waited for course that I NEED to do for work, wrangled a 6 year old to do some quite frankly shite online learning exercises that are available for free on the Internet, and apologised to colleagues continually for being all over the place.

This generation of parents and children are being let down on all fronts.

Michellexxx · 26/09/2023 19:39

Procrastinatiostation · 26/09/2023 16:25

It perhaps isnt a popular view, but I've ran out of patience with the strikes. There is a wide disparity in abilities and backgrounds at DC's school and those that suffer the most are the children and parents least able to afford to take a day off work or who rely on school for a safe, warm environment. The latest offer percentage wise isn't bad, just short of 10% is far more than most of the general public can hope to get.

I also found it pretty grating this morning driving past the local primary school where the staff on the picket line were giggling and cheering as cars tooted at them. In contrast I spent much of this morning close to tears, while I cancelled a much waited for course that I NEED to do for work, wrangled a 6 year old to do some quite frankly shite online learning exercises that are available for free on the Internet, and apologised to colleagues continually for being all over the place.

This generation of parents and children are being let down on all fronts.

You do know these people are parents too. And are probably in the demographic that you list at the top of your complaint? They’re doing this to try and improve life for their children.

The idea that strikes aren’t fair because they impact you are so ludicrous. Of course they do, that is the point of a strike.

If we were to go by your definition then no one in the public sector could fight for a pay rise because it might impact your day to day life.

I bet you would be on another thread complaining about terrible public services and how the government have destroyed the country. And yet here are people, minimum wage people, rallying with purpose against said government. And it’s apparently annoying because it has impacted you.

Thank god you don’t live in France.

Michellexxx · 26/09/2023 19:41

Also the pay offer isn’t a blanket 10%. These strikes are so complicated because of the variation in pay. But one point was ensuring £15/hour. I wouldn’t exactly say that’s better than the vast majority of the UK..

liveforsummer · 26/09/2023 21:10

Procrastinatiostation · 26/09/2023 16:25

It perhaps isnt a popular view, but I've ran out of patience with the strikes. There is a wide disparity in abilities and backgrounds at DC's school and those that suffer the most are the children and parents least able to afford to take a day off work or who rely on school for a safe, warm environment. The latest offer percentage wise isn't bad, just short of 10% is far more than most of the general public can hope to get.

I also found it pretty grating this morning driving past the local primary school where the staff on the picket line were giggling and cheering as cars tooted at them. In contrast I spent much of this morning close to tears, while I cancelled a much waited for course that I NEED to do for work, wrangled a 6 year old to do some quite frankly shite online learning exercises that are available for free on the Internet, and apologised to colleagues continually for being all over the place.

This generation of parents and children are being let down on all fronts.

You've run out of patience? It's day 1!! Of course they were smiling on the picket line, solidarity and getting through and it's great to know at least some support it . I'm sure many, like me were also close to tears walking round Asda a bit later with hungry kids who, btw have also missed another day of education just like yours, adding up a few essentials to the exact penny because I only had £ 3.32 in my bank despite having a second job. What happens when we all leave because the stress isn't worth £12k a year. You might see more home schooling to come

MountedbyHarryWindsor · 26/09/2023 21:14

I dont have any sympathy and I was a unison member and a unison rep. My branch were always complaining about the tiniest thing and sending money to some random country I'd never heard of before to support a cause that had nothing to do with employment rights. I left Unison and left the public sector for the charity sector. I don't get the same pension, holidays, and other perks but I bloody love it. I've never worked as hard in my life which is great because I'm not one of those who likes to get paid to do very little, which was another thing I hated about my publiic sector jobs. It just never sat right with me. I'd see my colleagues online shopping / holiday booking / gossiping all day and getting paid £40,000 a year (that was my salary when I left). I wanted to work and resented my colleagues who got paid the same as me for doing less and never called out on it. I hate public money being wasted like that. Zero sympathy.

Michellexxx · 26/09/2023 21:22

MountedbyHarryWindsor · 26/09/2023 21:14

I dont have any sympathy and I was a unison member and a unison rep. My branch were always complaining about the tiniest thing and sending money to some random country I'd never heard of before to support a cause that had nothing to do with employment rights. I left Unison and left the public sector for the charity sector. I don't get the same pension, holidays, and other perks but I bloody love it. I've never worked as hard in my life which is great because I'm not one of those who likes to get paid to do very little, which was another thing I hated about my publiic sector jobs. It just never sat right with me. I'd see my colleagues online shopping / holiday booking / gossiping all day and getting paid £40,000 a year (that was my salary when I left). I wanted to work and resented my colleagues who got paid the same as me for doing less and never called out on it. I hate public money being wasted like that. Zero sympathy.

I never knew satire was so popular on mn. Thanks for the laughs this evening. 😂

liveforsummer · 26/09/2023 21:37

MountedbyHarryWindsor · 26/09/2023 21:14

I dont have any sympathy and I was a unison member and a unison rep. My branch were always complaining about the tiniest thing and sending money to some random country I'd never heard of before to support a cause that had nothing to do with employment rights. I left Unison and left the public sector for the charity sector. I don't get the same pension, holidays, and other perks but I bloody love it. I've never worked as hard in my life which is great because I'm not one of those who likes to get paid to do very little, which was another thing I hated about my publiic sector jobs. It just never sat right with me. I'd see my colleagues online shopping / holiday booking / gossiping all day and getting paid £40,000 a year (that was my salary when I left). I wanted to work and resented my colleagues who got paid the same as me for doing less and never called out on it. I hate public money being wasted like that. Zero sympathy.

You realise the people currently striking take home around 12k for working in challenging roles. Last week alone I was hit, kicked, bitten and caught nits. 40k for doing nothing? None of us on strike earn anywhere near that! As for our school janitor. He actually deserves an award for going above and beyond!

LoopyGremlin · 26/09/2023 21:58

Spot on @liveforsummer
The support staff deal with some of the most challenging and vulnerable kids for the princely sum of £1000 a month. They'd be better off working in a supermarket as at least they'd get full time hours and paid for 52 weeks.

We have had several support staff leave as the job is advertised as £18k per year and then they realise that figure is based on 35 hours a week and non sessional and the actual salary is £12k.

The number of people applying for these positions is reducing all the time.

Groovee · 26/09/2023 22:05

Gawd I wish I was actually paid to sit about doing nothing. I'm with children 8.30-3pm with a 30 minute break then I have paperwork to do, training to support children with specific needs outwith my working time, planning.

I spent last year hoping that I wouldn't get hurt as some would lash out and really hurt the staff, that then came with a lot more paperwork our mental health suffered too. For me I took home £9000 for the privilege.

Then someone moans that we dared to smile on the picket line.

Badbudgeter · 26/09/2023 22:17

Procrastinatiostation · 26/09/2023 16:25

It perhaps isnt a popular view, but I've ran out of patience with the strikes. There is a wide disparity in abilities and backgrounds at DC's school and those that suffer the most are the children and parents least able to afford to take a day off work or who rely on school for a safe, warm environment. The latest offer percentage wise isn't bad, just short of 10% is far more than most of the general public can hope to get.

I also found it pretty grating this morning driving past the local primary school where the staff on the picket line were giggling and cheering as cars tooted at them. In contrast I spent much of this morning close to tears, while I cancelled a much waited for course that I NEED to do for work, wrangled a 6 year old to do some quite frankly shite online learning exercises that are available for free on the Internet, and apologised to colleagues continually for being all over the place.

This generation of parents and children are being let down on all fronts.

I'd agree with you although I'm sure not many would. The worst affected are low income families who have don't work / dont get paid jobs who are down a days wages/ three days by the end of the week. That's an electric bill that can't be paid or having to use a food bank. It's pushing people who are just about managing into poverty.

I would like everyone to earn a decent wage but the reality is if you are going to work a less than school hours, term time only job then the wages aren't going to be great. If you are taking home 12k then I'm working it back to around 25.5 hours a week (at minimum wage less hours if you are better paid) 39 weeks plus holiday pay.

I earn £12 an hour which isn't terribly high but I make over £30K because I on average work 50 hour weeks, 46 weeks of the year. If someone earns £12 an hour at school then it's still under £14k which is still a shit wage.How much should people earn? To be on £30k on a 25.5 hour term time job you'd have to be on more than £26 an hour.

Ineedaholiday23 · 27/09/2023 06:50

It's not less than school hours though - where are you getting that from?!

Nursery staff work until six in many cases.

Before/ after care for a child is around £300 a month. Their pay is very little. It's just impossible for many and I know very experienced ASN PSAs who are working at the weekend just to cover bills and eat.

gawditswindy · 27/09/2023 07:21

School office staff work 8/8.30-4/4.30 5 days. They work school holidays. Janitors also work 8 hour days up to 9pm, over 6, sometimes 7 days. Working in a school as a non teacher is even more thankless than doing it as a teacher.

I don't think anyone who works 25 hours expects to be paid for 35. That's a very Daily Mail narrative. People just want to be paid a fair wage for the job they do.

liveforsummer · 27/09/2023 07:55

To add as a pupils support assistant we get paid 15 mins before and after the children are in. In the morning that's a quick chat with the teacher. In the afternoon it's getting dc out with all their things and dealing with those who haven't been collected. If we want to actually prepare task bags and activities , find resources, etc that's done in our own time for free. ATM I work with a child who has a very short attention span and if you don't have multiple resources quickly to hand he can quickly become disregulated and violent, hurting myself and other staff and destroying the classroom so really I have no choice but to stay back and get things ready. My own dc is left alone in the house in the morning as I can't afford breakfast club and gets home and lets herself in. Oh and I have a second job too where I work til 2am on a Sunday morning so no real day off

Janeay · 27/09/2023 10:11

It’s worth noting that is not just school assistance staff etc that or on strike it is other council staff refuse collectors etc ..
I work within health and social care and rejected this offer as it would be a 5% rise We earn 6 grand behind or NHS health colleagues that do the same job ! We worked all the way through lockdown to assist hospital discharges (at risk to our own health ) and have not had a decent ride in years. We were not asked to strike though but will be rejecting anything that is below the raise we deserve.

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