Public sector strikes - how will this affect the average family?

melancholly

as someone without kids, i'm not expecting any inconvenience.... the next in the series of excessive tube strikes is a different matter. i feel bad that those striking for the first time in years are getting this much stick - the tube and fire brigade have attempted to hold london to ransom for years (admittedly, they now have almost no public support as a result, but it's a 'local' issue so they aren't subject to the same national abuse as the currently planned strikes).

i'm not sure the strikes will make a difference, but if people weren't prepared to stand up for what they believe in, then it would be a great shame. as long as this is just one day, to prove a point, rather than a campaign of multiple days off all the time (as in the tube), then the world won't end!

maybe more people will realise who all these public sector workers are - the ones who get attacked in the press all the time are just people struggling to get by. that's been what i've taken from this; most of them aren't people in offices doing nothing and earning a fortune. the current economic climate is making society turn on itself and the cuts and the vitriol behind them are just making everything negative. the whole atmosphere is not great. we're not 'all in this together' or even pulling together, we're trying to find scapegoat after scapegoat..... that's the real shame!

<gets off soapbox :$>

serena

In reply to Pont:

Mmm. My school are still teaching all our students, except Year 11, and Year 13, and will continue to do so until the last week, when the timetable is suspended for an activities week.

No teachers would go out on strike during the examination period - and the unions have carefully considered the date to avoid this.

I returned to teaching after a long break, love teaching, despite being in a challenging school, but cannot see myself still working at nearly 70.

floss2

emmaanddave wrote: »

Please don't judge me based on taking my children out for one day....I am not the only parent THINKING of doing this...

I'm sure you aren't.

emmaanddave wrote: »

...Our school has a policy of no days off or holiday during term time and only special occassions would be authorised...

Same as lots of other schools.

emmaanddave wrote: »

...Not sure if our school is closing and as a school governor I am awaiting a meeting!

I wonder what your LEA governors policy says?

Don't get me wrong - I support the strikes because I agree with the objections to pension & retirement changes, but what you personally are doing is a little bit close to the wrong side of right, especially in the position you are in as a school governor. Have you spoken to your Chairman of Governors or the Headteacher about this?

Pont

serena wrote: »

In reply to Pont:

Mmm. My school are still teaching all our students, except Year 11, and Year 13, and will continue to do so until the last week, when the timetable is suspended for an activities week.

No teachers would go out on strike during the examination period - and the unions have carefully considered the date to avoid this.

I returned to teaching after a long break, love teaching, despite being in a challenging school, but cannot see myself still working at nearly 70.

Every school says that they are still 'teaching' up until the end of the summer term. However, in reality, this isn't the case as most teachers take this time to plan, stream etc for the forthcoming Autumn term. As a soon to be ex teacher I know what the 'party line' is re: teaching in the last couple of weeks leading up to the end of term, and also as a parent I can see the differences in classwork/homework during these final weeks period.

Teaching unions of course know about how to gain public support re: strike action. However, unions such as Unison have a membership who are not teaching staff. These members are among the lowest paid workers in the country and are not generally recognised as school staff - schools could not function without them - cleaners, caretakers, catering etc. etc. Without such staff, schools could not operate. Unison also took the decision not to upset public examinations for which they should be applauded - they could have easily done so.

I also could not see me working in my 70s and so am perhaps, albeit now in dire financial circumstances, looking forward in 3 weeks to be an ex teacher! No pension by the way - too young. Little in the way of redundancy - that's life!

floss2

Pont wrote: »

.... However, unions such as Unison have a membership who are not teaching staff. These members are among the lowest paid workers in the country and are not generally recognised as school staff - schools could not function without them - cleaners, caretakers, catering etc. etc. Without such staff, schools could not operate. Unison also took the decision not to upset public examinations for which they should be applauded - they could have easily done so.

I also could not see me working in my 70s and so am perhaps, albeit now in dire financial circumstances, looking forward in 3 weeks to be an ex teacher! No pension by the way - too young. Little in the way of redundancy - that's life!

Unison is what used to be known as the National And Local Government Officers Association...or NALGO, and is predominantly non-teaching staff.

At the end of the day, as a no-longer Unison member (due to personal issues with the general secretary awarding himself a payrise whilst condoning none for lower paid staff like myself) I support the strikes, even though they are disruptive to parents (been there, done that, had to take unpaid leave myself in the past) but as I am in a local government pension scheme and am suddenly faced with massive (double or more) increases in the pension contribution, and removal of the final salary scheme I signed up for, coupled with pay freezes (and -2.5% pay cuts coupled with -1% parking charges with my employer) wouldn't you have some sympathy?

Even the unemployment figures last week supported the insecurity in public sector - private sector employment went up, public sector employment went down....and how many of those jobs are as a direct result of the impact of the comprehensive spending review?

Allegra

In our case, the teachers's strike means that
1) one of DD's applied learning days, that was meant to take place that Thursday has been cancelled - it was, of course, the one she was most looking forward to, to Shakespeare's birthplace
2) she will not be attending her counselling appointment that Friday in order to take part in the remaining trip, cos I'll be damned if I'll make her feel like she's being punished for feeling low and having to have counselling, and anyone who thinks that I am getting my priorities wrong can go $crew themselves (if the Thu trip wasn't cancelled, I might have considered trying to "sell" her the counselling apptm as the better option than the maths trip)
3) I will have to take Thursday off work in order to stay home with DD, trying my employer's patience even further. Still, at least I'll not be the only parent in the same situation - the way things are going, there'll be no one to staff the library on 30th !

Mind you, we are hardly what you might call an average family.... What is an average family, anyway ?

Indout96

non-union members get the same pay rise as union members in my public service department

As the first person at work (Chemical manufacturer) to not join the union despite great pressure from the shop stewards (about 40% are now non-union) I spent 15 years trying to get my rise taken out of the union agreement but to no effect. I then moved to a staff role where my rise is based on my performance and I know which I prefer.
You say reaping the benifits, I say held back.

I am in a local government pension scheme and am suddenly faced with massive (double or more) increases in the pension contribution, and removal of the final salary scheme I signed up for

Just like most of the public sector 3 to 4 years ago, funny I didnt see you out with banners when the private companies were cutting pensions and taking away final salary schemes.

gratefulforhelp_2

emmaanddave wrote: »

and if it continues there will be longer weeks in Sept, so I have heard.

I think weeks will remain the standard seven days;)

jeffandk8 wrote: »

And you want your children taught PE etc by a 68 year old???

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

I would be withdrawing my labour if I were not on maternity leave.

Caring about the progress of students and caring about massive detriment to our terms and conditions of employment are not mutually exclusive.

split_second

civil service are on strike the same day, fiance is due to work at a different branch than her normal one and they have a very intimidating picket line, she has chosen to strike (i'm on leave that day anyway as i work in private sector and would have been off anyway), for us it means we start holidays a day early

pinkshoes

A day of school so close to the end of term won't hurt the kids education...

I've been reading about the strikes, and the changes to teacher's pensions, and even the proposed changes are SO much better than I'll ever get in the private sector, that I'm actually considering going into teaching!!