Are you sending the NEU letter to your head?

[shadowlily]

If your school is remaining open for all pupils, are you sending the NEU template letter to your head? Do you think the majority of your colleagues will or do you think they will go in as usual on Monday?

At least half of the staff in one of the two schools are being v vocal about this and are sending it.

I'm in the wrong union :-(

I am. I know of 3 others who definitely are. By the way, you don't need to be in the right union, our reps have sent the email to the entire staff, TAs as well as teachers, because it is based on Health and Safety legislation so is applicable to everyone.

Thanks for that, didn't realise NAS members were able to use it as usually can only act if your specific union advises.

Yes I have already sent it...as have 9 other members of our staff. You don't have to be in the NEU to send the letter...it's just a template setting out the unsafe conditions based on the Section 44 👍👍

I have
I don't think either of the other teachers (small school) are in the NEU.
2 others in our federation are.
That's all I know....... If you have primary aged children are you keeping them off too? (I am.)

I’m going to. I’m only one two teachers in my small early years setting and I don’t think my colleague is shooting me on this but hey ho. Definitely don’t feel safe.

Wondering where I stand on this. I work in a private preschool. I have asthma & don’t feel safe going to work on Monday.

Section 44 applies to all workers on all settings, so which union you are in doesn't matter.
The NEU have advised their members to action it, but any staff member could if they wanted.

We all have rights, these rights cannot be removed and we all have the right to go to work and not feel as if we are sticking our heads into a guillotine everyday.

These are all our rights, all the union has done is find a hook to use and the template letter.
Anyone can invoke this.. Just say you don't feel safe...

You could do it in a supermarket (I would if I was a cashier), barber shop, amazon worker... Anywhere..

Unison have advised all school staff including special to refuse. We have 12 kids in our class. I have no idea what to do. I want to support the unions stance but seems ridiculous with such small numbers.

Our rep is sending it on behalf of all NEU staff unless anyone opts out.

I did feel nervous about sending it on my own but this has made the decision easy for me.

If you are not in the NEU and want to join the action, you can switch unions today - or, as others have said, you can send the letter independently.

I'm not.

@twinkletoesimnot

I have I don't think either of the other teachers (small school) are in the NEU. 2 others in our federation are. That's all I know....... If you have primary aged children are you keeping them off too? (I am.)

Sending DDs in whilst the school remains open to the majority of pupils.

May stop using breakfast club though, to limit their contact with other pupils.

I am a member of the NEU. My headteacher is doing her best and has asked us to let her know so she can decide if she can open tomorrow. My instinct is to go in tomorrow because if we are going to shut, I want to give my class a schedule of work and they don't all have tech. But, I don't want to stand against colleagues who aren't going in because collective action is the whole point of a union, isn't it? I would prefer a statement from the LA about its schools. I have no idea what to do.

We've had an email from our head, they haven't mentioned their letter, just told us that it is safe and we are back in tomorrow.

I would assume that they are also carrying on with their observations, learning walks and book scrutinies that we they have planned that also took place throughout Autumn term.

Wow, they have actually said its safe?

Can they guarantee that?

Crazy we didn't get any learning walks, we've had an almost total retreat of slt.

@Panickingpavlova To paraphrase - I don't want to use the wording within the email - our risk assessment is really good, which means that we are all in tomorrow and it's fine because they have decided our safety is the most important thing.

We've had full throttle from SLT since we went back, the whole school is fed up and angry.

@lurch3r I don't think this is about collective action. I think you've just got to do what is right for you, your family, health and whether you feel safe. I would hope colleagues will support each other whatever they decide, certainly not a case of standing against each other.
For the record I'm not sending in the letter and will be going into work, however I understand and support anyone who decides not to go in.

Thank you, I just want to do the right thing. But it's not as clear cut as that, I don't think.

I know anyone can do this but our email from NASUWT pretty much instructs us to go to work.

I'm a TA in Unison and will be sending in my letter.

[quote crazycatgal]@Panickingpavlova To paraphrase - I don't want to use the wording within the email - our risk assessment is really good, which means that we are all in tomorrow and it's fine because they have decided our safety is the most important thing.

We've had full throttle from SLT since we went back, the whole school is fed up and angry.[/quote]
I would ask to see an updated risk assessment at the very least.

I think SLT insisting is was safe would scare me more than anything at the moment.

FWIW, I do understand people are in a difficult position and I'm not sure what I would have done if our rep hadn't decided to take a collective action.

I support anyone who does feel like they want to go in, but I'd also urge them to ensure it's actually safe!