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Whether you're a permanent teacher, supply teacher or student teacher, you'll find others in the same situation on our Staffroom forum.

I didn't vote to strike so what will I do?

40 replies

SoBizarre · 17/01/2023 11:20

I didn't vote at all in the ballot for personal reasons.

I teach part time and one of the strike days will be on a day I normally work. Do I go into work as normal on that day? I've not encountered this situation before so I'm not sure what happens.

Thank you

OP posts:
Margo34 · 20/01/2023 14:37

Clarabellawilliamson · 19/01/2023 19:04

@Takoneko - that's not quite right, if you are a member of NEU or not a member of ANY union then you can join the strike, but people who are members of NASUWT are not protected by strike legislation, so should not join.

You can be a member of more than one union, e.g. NASUWT and NEU, and chose to strike under NEU with the protective legislation (as long as you join or are a member of the striking union before the strikes begin). 😊

parrotonmyshoulder · 20/01/2023 18:02

I’m really disappointed that most of my NEU colleagues in my school are not striking. The loss of pay is a very short term argument, but I suppose more valid if you’re a new teacher rather than one with decades of eroded pay.

DrMadelineMaxwell · 20/01/2023 18:08

If you are NASUWT, whether you voted to strike or didn't, you aren't allowed to strike in sympathy with the NEU because they didn't make the legal cutoff to call a strike.

Postapocalypticcowgirl · 20/01/2023 18:24

mirabella17 · 18/01/2023 17:51

I didn't say I wasn't going to strike. I'm just not going to make people feel guilty if they choose not to. Not everyone can afford 5 days loss of pay.

Union districts have hardship funds for those who need it. You can apply to have all your pay covered.

Those who cannot afford to lose 4 days pay are most in need of the strikes- anyone who doesn't have savings and is living hand to mouth is in desperate need of a pay rise right now.

Postapocalypticcowgirl · 20/01/2023 18:29

I get what it's like to live paycheck to paycheck as a teacher. In my last teaching job I lived in a very expensive town where a lot of the houses are now second homes/air bnb and my rent was extortionate. I often was out of money by the end of the month, and occasionally in my overdraft.

This summer, I moved jobs, and now I'm lucky enough not to be in that position and to have built up some emergency savings last term. It wasn't the only reason, but it was a significant push factor for me.

But if you are genuinely in the position where losing a few days pay is unaffordable, then I would suggest you need the strike more than anyone because bills can suddenly shoot up (look what's happened with gas/electric and housing costs this year), and wipe out that day's pay. This is why we need a pay rise that will at least match inflation.

I know teachers who can't afford to live in the communities they teach in, or the communities they grew up in, and it is getting harder and harder to survive for a lot of teachers, I know. Which is one of the reasons we have to strike...

But it's not a reason not to strike- speak to your union rep, or your district officers and there will likely be help available. The districts do have some funds for this.

Meredusoleil · 20/01/2023 19:09

So what should NASUWT members do on the strike days?

DrMadelineMaxwell · 20/01/2023 19:10

Work

DrMadelineMaxwell · 20/01/2023 19:10

posted too soon.

Work, but not cover for striking colleagues.

Margo34 · 20/01/2023 20:05

Meredusoleil · 20/01/2023 19:09

So what should NASUWT members do on the strike days?

Join the NEU for a month or 2 then strike under NEU if you wanted to strike. Then cancel NEU if you chose and remain in NASUWT, or cancel NASUWT and remain NEU.

echt · 20/01/2023 22:20

SoBizarre · 17/01/2023 11:20

I didn't vote at all in the ballot for personal reasons.

I teach part time and one of the strike days will be on a day I normally work. Do I go into work as normal on that day? I've not encountered this situation before so I'm not sure what happens.

Thank you

Why don't you ask your union? They'll know.

DrMadelineMaxwell · 20/01/2023 23:09

NEU terms and conditions say that if you sign up for membership it is for a full year so sadly you cant sign up for a month or two without being liable to pay full annual costs

Shz84 · 21/01/2023 12:27

I think all schools might do it differently but last time we had strikes, those not striking had to come in and their classes were in. (Only about 3 classes were in in the whole school!) Parents found out officially on the morning so maximum disruption. So I would assume a normal teaching day in your position, though perhaps with rather disgruntled children..!

Postapocalypticcowgirl · 21/01/2023 14:24

Meredusoleil · 20/01/2023 19:09

So what should NASUWT members do on the strike days?

It depends what you want to do.

Assuming you don't want to strike, you would need to report to work. You can refuse to cover absent colleagues and you can refuse to supervise any students not normally in your own classes (e.g. mass supervision in the hall).

If your school is closed, your head may agree to you working from home.

Postapocalypticcowgirl · 21/01/2023 14:25

DrMadelineMaxwell · 20/01/2023 23:09

NEU terms and conditions say that if you sign up for membership it is for a full year so sadly you cant sign up for a month or two without being liable to pay full annual costs

In practice, if you say you are cancelling due to financial hardship, or because you are leaving teaching, I have known them let people off the additional membership costs. I know the terms and conditions say otherwise, but if you cancel and speak to a human about it, they are usually more flexible.

Shinyandnew1 · 22/01/2023 20:36

At my current school, everyone is striking so the school is closed. In previous strikes, back when it was NUT, not everyone was a member, school remained open and those who were members of other unions went to work with their class as normal. They just had really pissed off kids in their class all day as most of the rest of the kids in the school were off/playing at the park!

If you are NEU but not striking, will you expect your union rep to support you should you need employment help in future?

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