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Secondary education

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Original poster

NUT plan to strike 24 April - I know nothing about union stuff, how does this all work?

70 replies

roisin · 01/04/2008 20:55

If the strike goes ahead, I presume schools will not be open to students, but that staff from other unions will go in to work; but obviously not teach the kids.

Is that correct?

OP posts:
fryalot · 01/04/2008 20:56

the way I understand it is that staff from other unions will go in, and there should be enough teachers so that the kids can still attend school.

Although I suppose it depends on the amount of NUT teachers at any given school... if 95% of them are NUT and on strike... no kids.

PuppyMonkey · 01/04/2008 20:57

Thought it was April 21?

twinsetandpearls · 01/04/2008 21:00

Know nothing about this although very few staff at our school our with the NUT.

fryalot · 01/04/2008 21:01

fairly sure it's April 24th.

dp a teacher with the NASUWT so he will be going to school as usual.

Heated · 01/04/2008 21:01

I'm in the NUT, although didn't vote in the ballot along with the vast majority of my colleagues. I suspect that although not happy with the pay award it's in keeping with other public sector workers and therefore most are not aggrieved enough to strike. But I digress...

The NUT is not the largest union in my school and therefore the school will not close.

You should have some communication from the school once they know how many teachers it does involve. They very possibly don't know since union membership is very much an individual choice.

Original poster
roisin · 01/04/2008 21:04

I think in our school probably about 1/3 of staff are NUT. I don't think the whole school could function on that basis.

Maybe they would just have yr9 and yr11 in?

OP posts:
ecoworrier · 02/04/2008 09:50

Would all NUT members support the strike then? Given that only 32% of them bothered to vote at all...

Donk · 02/04/2008 12:48

And where do I stand as an NUT member, if i didn't receive a ballot paper, do I still have to strike for something I couldn't express an opinion on?
(thinks about leaving and joining ATL who will never instruct you to strike -but unlike the PAT leave the option open)

happilyconfused · 05/04/2008 22:49

Don't we lose a day's pay if we strike?? I will go in - teach whoever turns up and catch up with marking A level scripts

Whizzz · 05/04/2008 22:57

Does anyone know if you are in another union (eg. Unison) & get asked to cover a striking teacher - what you should do ??

onepieceoflollipop · 05/04/2008 23:00

Yes you do lose a day's pay if you strike.

Imo, if you are in the union (any union) and there is an official strike, then none of that union's members should go in. I know it means losing pay, but if lots of members went in for various reasons, then what is the point of the union? Not very "united" is it for people ot pick and choose whether they go in or not.

I know that some people liket to be in the union for the "good" parts of it - i.e. negotiating a pay deal, insurance cover or whatever, but really striking is part of it as well. (feel like I haven't phrased that very clearly)

Nymphadora · 05/04/2008 23:06

Whizzz that was my thought too?

Heated · 05/04/2008 23:15

But so few voted in the first place showing how unmilitant we feel. Dh will strike as the majority have voted to. I'm off work at present but will go with the majority decision.

Silly Q, but do we just not go in and not set work?

cat64 · 06/04/2008 20:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Whizzz · 15/04/2008 20:14

In case anyone was wondering - I contacted out local Unison office & they confirmed that Unison members should not cover striking NUT teachers in 24th

fizzbuzz · 15/04/2008 21:20

NASUWT have said the same thing, they have also said to cross picket line unless there is violence or intimidation (and I thought the kids weren't in that day.........)

Donk · 16/04/2008 21:27

Ah! Talked to Union rep today. As a supply teacher I am not being asked to strike since my employers are the agency, not a school. Hence no ballot papers....

Donk · 16/04/2008 21:28

Of course, if (as looks likely) school has to close, I will still lose a day's pay. Oh well!
At least I won't have to teach the year 10 class from hell.

fizzbuzz · 16/04/2008 21:38

No Y10's in our school on Thurs either. Thank God, 3xY10 lessons from hell on thursday

smartiejake · 17/04/2008 00:17

You do not get paid if you strike- you will lose a day's pay and no the head is not allowed to ask a non striking member of staff to cover a class for a striking one.

Clary · 17/04/2008 00:40

We have been told the classes that are likely to be affected - ie the ones where teachers are in NUT.

ATM looks as tho we will have to find somewhere else for DS1 and DS to go that day but not DD.

DS1 teacher actually only one in school to strike! (inf school but 7 classes). DH says yay! go Mrs XXXX!! well I guess the militant leftie in me agrees (as long as the working mum can find s/one to have DSs for a day... )

MrsGuyOfGisbourne · 17/04/2008 14:25

We have been told that some classes will be affected but not yet which . If one of DC affected, DH will take them both out for the day. Would be good if the proportion of teachers and union affiliation was in the ofsted report - wold be useful for parents to know when choosing a school.

fizzbuzz · 17/04/2008 16:39

I think that is absolutely nothing to do with OFSTED and is confidential knowledge I suspect.

People have fought for the right to strike for hundreds of years, and are permitted to do so, it should have NOTHING to do with choosing a school.

Posts like that make me wish I was striking at your dc's school

hercules1 · 17/04/2008 16:41

Bloody hell, what union people choose to belong to is none of your business.

CrackerOfNuts · 17/04/2008 16:42

In my dc's school, all of the teachers in the NUT are striking and so 8 teachers out of 14 won't be in.

The teachers in other unions have been told not to cover for strking teachers and so 1 of my 3 dc will have the day off.