Who is/isn't striking among the NUT members here?

[lifeissweet]

Facing a dilemma. My beliefs about unions are based on the fact that united we have a voice. People fought to have the right to unionise. If a union calls a strike, then I believe all members have a responsibility to stand up together. Otherwise, we come across as divided, not united and it weakens us all.

Not for a long, long time has the teaching profession been under so much threat and we need to be united now more than at any time. Our terms and conditions are facing changes which will make teaching a far less stable and desirable profession (and not really a profession at all if unqualified teachers are allowed to take classes all over the place).

However, I am currently the only member of staff at my school who is prepared to strike on Thursday. Half of the other staff are NUT. Lots of the support staff are in striking unions, yet no one is striking (including the NUT rep). The Head has told me that if I strike I will be the only one and that he will have to close only my class that day and keep the rest of the school open, so everyone will know it is only me withdrawing my labour and am I 'prepared to take the flak for that?'

I'm not sure I am, but I believe really strongly in supporting the union. The thought of ignoring deeply held principles and breaking a strike sit uncomfortably with me.

My DS's school is closed on Thursday. Other local schools are too.

So is it just my school where there are no striking staff at all? And if you are NUT, why are you not striking? Is it just so as not to disrupt end of year activities, or because you think striking isn't helping? (I don't, incidentally, but will vote with my feet on that one and change unions when this is done.) How do you square that with yourself?

Not preaching. People have all manner of reasons for not striking. I just think I want to feel a bit less out on a limb!

[JJsleeping]

How can you compare an Nut vote with a general election vote? The Nut vote is like Labour running the general election and only allowing Labour members to vote. Its not democratic.

If teaching unions aren't stopped from striking without a democratic mandate then we need to ban them. It is morally wrong for a militant minority to blackmail parents into giving them the money they have worked hard to get or to in-debt our children.

[TheLateMrsLizCromwell]

Not sure how you equate my post with 'agreeing with all this gvt is doing... etc'
Hope that is not the logic you are peddling to children.
There is clearly no genuine mandate for a strike in this case.

[BoneyBackJefferson]

nobody is blackmailing anybody.

You are in effect saying that it is wrong for a legal body to poll its own members.

Fortunately the rest of us understand what democracy is and are prepared to fight for it.

[Feenie]

How can I compare a democratic vote with a democratic vote? Easy.

[Bubblesmonkey]

I am striking.

[JJsleeping]

Its not wrong for the Nut to poll its members, but it is morally wrong to damage children's education, force parents to pay childcare and more tax just so they get more money.

Blackmail is an act, involving unjustified threats to make a gain or cause loss to another unless a demand is met.

[BoneyBackJefferson]

"Blackmail is an act, involving unjustified threats to make a gain or cause loss to another unless a demand is met."

You don't have a mandate saying that the teachers (and all others that are striking this Thursday) cause is unjust. What you have is an opinion that is subjective.

As for damaging the children's education. Its not, it is protecting education from gove and his delusions of what education should be. If you believe that this is just about pay then you need to read up on why people are striking.

[sanfairyanne]

JJ you basically have no clue what a union is or how it works

[woodlands01]

I am on strike. Part of NUT so will strike as a member. Only 2 members of staff striking. School opened as normal last time as same situation. Interested in what will happen with my lessons. I am supposed to be with same group all day as an 'activity' day.

[JJsleeping]

I think that says it all, this strike is not about children's education its a political statement. When teachers get political and stop stop being educators parents get really upset. Almost 60% voted for the parties that formed our government, that gives them the mandate and right to govern education. A minority of teachers have a right to disagree but not to blackmail everyone to agree with their agenda. When will teachers start listening.

[BoneyBackJefferson]

Its a shame JJ that you don't want to listen, its a shame that you want to peddle your opinion as facts.

I shall let you get on with your goading.

[cotwatcher]

I agree with JJ. This strike should be stopped. A strike should only be allowed if more than 50% of the entire membership vote in favour and that mandate should last for a month. Striking teachers would like us to believe they are striking to protect education but they are striking because Michael Gove wants them to move into this century. Why should a teacher automatically receive an increment each year just for serving time. Performance related pay is normal in the private sector...if teachers are so good what's the problem, they are good teachers so they will earn their increment. And why not pay a realistic amount for their generous final salary, inflation linked pension.
And where does it say it is illegal to cover for strikers....the army cover for ambulance workers and fire officers if they are on strike. Of course that head teacher can hire who they like for the day to cover for cleaners and caretakers. I agree with stating on a teacher's record the number of times they go on strike.....bet they would soon stop then.

[cotwatcher]

This coalition Government was democratically elected. Michael Gove was elected by his constituents...democratically, and many parents think they way he is reforming education is good .....it just ruffles the feathers of the teachers' unions who have had their way for too long.

[sanfairyanne]

wow JJ
great that you have a friend on here to back you up

performance related pay - why would that work? doesnt even work in the private sector

[Feenie]

21% voted for the Tories, yet here Gove is doing pretty much what he likes. 'Many parents', my arse - there only a handful here in a parenting website boasting over 3 million registered members.

[cotwatcher]

I didn't say that teachers don't care about education. I said that teachers would like us to believe they are striking to protect education. Which is different. Teachers should be honest and tell parents they are striking for more money and to keep their pensions which are better than most parents can dream of. If your case is so good then tell parents and don't pretend you are striking to protect education.
Everyone else is getting 1% pay rise why on earth should teachers be different. This country can't afford it.

[cotwatcher]

Yes Feenie but this part of the forum is called " the staffroom"....so guess what ....it's full of teachers.

[cotwatcher]

What percentage of the NUT membership voted for this strike? Not what percentage of those who voted but of the entire membership.

[JJsleeping]

I am sorry if some teachers find it hard to hear opinions different to theirs but striking action has massive repercussions on parents, if they took strike action during the summer holidays then we would have more sympathy.

[rollonthesummer]

if they took strike action during the summer holidays then we would have more sympathy.

Really?

[Feenie]

I meant a handful who support Gove's reforms out of the whole of MN, cotwatcher.

And it was 82% in favour out of a 27% turnout, as opposed to 36% of a 61% turnout - that was my point. Percentages in favour seem less important when electing (or not electing) a government.

[Feenie]

Why would we strike during unpaid holidays?

[JJsleeping]

FYI I dont think teachers are being greedy, in fact I think they deserve higher pay (with conditions), everyone does, however I dont think they understand that money doesn't grow on trees. I also think teachers care about education, but at the end of the day its a job for them and they have a vested interest. Ultimately parents care most about children's education and that's something teachers seem to ignore.

I wish teachers (the NUT) would stop being a political lobbying group and concentrate on teaching, they would earn more respect then, just like the police or army.

[Goblinchild]

I still like the idea of withdrawing good will and just doing what we are paid to do and no more. Of course, that actually would impact far more on the children than anyone else, so that is why it is both difficult and unpopular with teachers.
Worked as a tool of negotiation back in the 80s though.