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!

[KinkyDorito]

I am really, really worried about what the state of secondary education will be like by the time my DS (5) gets there. ravenAK explains it well. I also don't want him in school for 10 hour days, 45 weeks a year. State education is being trashed. A staffing crisis is looming so there will be more poorly skilled teachers who might otherwise have failed their PGCE year or unqualified teachers taking those posts.

But then, I am not convinced that the people who have arrived to argue on here really understand the issues. Either that, or their children are safe in their ivory towers of fee paying schools where salaries are more competitive and experienced teachers are encouraged to stay in their jobs.

I am praying for a change in government so we might start to rebuild the shambles. Don't even get me started on the new GCSE specs...

The point is ...why on earth should we? This is laughable - so state workers don't deserve a pay increase each year in spite of inflation! See all the comments above about what is going to happen in teaching in the coming years. When your child is being taught Maths or English by an unqualified teacher, or, like at my school presently, a stream of non-specialist supply teachers, review this statement. Why would anyone want to teach - where is the incentive? A 20k starting salary that might never go up thanks to performance related pay for a professional role. I would never have started - I'd have taken my first class degree and my distinction at MA and converted it to Law. It's a joke.

Children are merely the future of this country. God forbid we should want to educate them well.

I said I wouldn't rise to the trolls.

[BoneyBackJefferson]

Kinky

It will be ok, all the schools will be academy chains run by businesses, Free schools or schools run by religions. Pupils all taught by those that think teaching can be done by someone walking in off the street.

All teachers paid at minimum rates with no hope of even a small pay rise as heads with be able to hold them to the exact amount they are on as they didn't pass the impossible targets set by the head and the government (this is the new one that gove is pushing through with no consultation).

But on the brightside public services staff will never be able to strike again and children failing will still be the fault of the teachers.

Just FYI (to all) I am not a union hardliner just someone who is pissed off at the situation.

[KinkyDorito]

Just to clarify - when I said pay might not go up for performance, this would be about good teachers who, because of budget constraints, find that they are set impossible targets to try and achieve to get the next pay increment. I have no time for lazy teachers in my profession either, but I do not like seeing so many talented ones beaten with the outstanding stick that is just about impossible to achieve day in, day out. We simply are not given the time to facilitate that.

Enthusiasm is dying out, good will is dying out - with it will go everything that enriches state education for our children.

[KinkyDorito]

Just FYI (to all) I am not a union hardliner just someone who is pissed off at the situation. me too boney. It is scary. But people are more concerned about another day off than thinking about the real reasons why so many of us are worried.

I've seen A Level kids trying to teach themselves this year after no teachers applied for posts. GCSE RE have had a stream of supply. I can only do so much myself. It's also happening in the school that I left - outstanding across the board and struggling to get applicants.

[BoneyBackJefferson]

cotwatcher

"The point is not that the Country could easily afford it, of course it could. The point is ...why on earth should we?"

Its an interesting point that you bring up, but I notice that many people who complain about teachers often go on about schools should be run more like industry (the private sector). They then overlook that they also say "if you want the best, you pay for the best". Why is this view not carried through in to education?

Do you really believe that the "best and brightest" will be enticed in to teaching when the terms and conditions are being eroded so badly that teachers are taking your and others advice and leaving the profession in droves?

[rollonthesummer]

I just don't understand your attitude-why should we?


I want my children taught be happy, enthusiastic, confident professionals. Doesn't everyone?

[cotwatcher]

I haven't advised any teachers to leave the profession....please read what I actually wrote.

I also want enthusiastic, knowledgeable professional teachers. But teachers have to accept that they have the best pension provision in this country next to the police and stop complaining about having to pay for it. Many people in the private sector have significantly poorer pensions....and, no it isn't a race to the bottom before you all start accusing me of that.
Some people in the private sector are paid more than teachers but very, very few have a defined benefit pension like that of the teachers. I can understand (but don't agree with) your complaints about your workload ( you still don't work nearly as many hours per week as my DS or DSiL ) but I think you should accept that you have a great pension.

[cotwatcher]

Please explain to me why you think you should get an automatic pay rise every year regardless of how hard you work/good you are.

[KinkyDorito]

cot What is Merchants exactly? It sounds fee-paying to me.

It reads like you haven't got the first clue what you are talking about and a quick search shows why. At least your children will never suffer because of the changes that Gove makes, eh?

I wonder if you expect a rate of inflation pay rise in your household? I can understand you completely not supporting pay rises for state workers - protect the wealth and all that.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/primary/a2054598-Carleton-House-v-s-Merchant-Taylors-v-s-Liverpool-College

[KinkyDorito]

It even has an 'Old Boys Association"! How fabulous.

[KinkyDorito]

Are you Michael Gove? Infiltrating the staffroom on MN?

[ravenAK]

Nah, we asked her before if she was Sarah Vine. Apparently Mrs G is too much of a lefty for cotwatcher though .

(At least, I think it was this particular Goveygroupie...I start muddling them up after a bit...)

[rollonthesummer]

Oh dear. Someone who really has no idea what state schools spouting their ill-informed opinions on the subject.

Are you Michael Gove?

[slug]

Well, as a former teacher who will be taking a day's leave tomorrow to care for DD and several other children whose parent's don't have the luxury of being able to take time off as easily, I, for one, will be cheering the picket lines.

More power to your elbow!

[BoneyBackJefferson]

"Cot"

What do your DS and DSIL do so that we can poke holes in them?

Or alternatively have you run out of arguments?

[noblegiraffe]

If you don't value teachers, how on earth can you claim to value education?

[cotwatcher]

I have taught for many years in the state sector in various parts of the country and retired recently so I do know what I am talking about. I was a senior manager. I know all about teachers' pensions because I have recently accessed mine.
Some of my DCs were in the state sector and some were private and I make no apologies for that.
Have you run out of arguments and have to resort to personal attacks? It is a sure sign of weakness.

[cotwatcher]

I do value teachers, I just think they claim to be striking about protecting education when they are really moaning about their salary and pensions

[BoneyBackJefferson]

Cot

I am returning the favour. You brought your DS in to this and you brought your DSIL in to this as well.

When you say you have been a senior manager, How long where you a manager for?
You say that you have recently retired, When did you retire?
Both of these will have an effect on exactly what you know about what teachers today are going through.

I could care less where your children where educated, I care that qualified professionals did the teaching.

"I just think they claim to be striking about protecting education when they are really moaning about their salary and pensions"

If you where a teacher and a senior manager you would know that Terms and Conditions are all that we are allowed to strike about.

As for accepting that I have a great pension, You are wrong I am looking at an OK pension that is better than most private sector provisions.

You on the other hand have a great pension as it wasn't affected by the current and on going changes.

[noblegiraffe]

I know all about teachers' pensions because I have recently accessed mine

In that case you know fuck all about teachers' pensions because they have changed massively in the last few years. You have not paid the increased contributions for a lower payout for a start.

But if I recall correctly, you weren't aware of how many weeks holiday teachers get, nor the salary an NQT starts on either. So many gaps in knowledge for one who claims so much experience.

[highjumper]

only 11 of Wandsworth,s 61 schools will be completely closed on Thursday. Thank goodness not all teachers are striking

[BoneyBackJefferson]

highjumper

I hope you still feel that way when your DGC are going to school.

[GiantIsopod]

I am not a teacher, but DH is. He's striking but did not want to...ultimately, he feels that showing solidarity and ensuring people respect the union will help in future issues. Although he's mainly against striking full stop, right now...it's going to make parents and the rest of the public turn against you. The government are trying to divide and conquer, and the unions seem to be playing along. There's not enough publicity about the reasons why...most parents I know see NUT/teachers as a whole as being whiny when they have good pay, good pensions and long holidays. I'm not an idiot, but the point is to pressure the government...when most of the public are on their side, striking won't help, it could worsen it?