Teachers strike on Thursday

jellyhead

Our letter from high school says 2 of the unions are striking, so it all depends on which unions the staff at your school are in, and if a significant number will be striking. Some schools will be able to work around it.

There must be a lot striking at ours, because they usually keep school open for the year 10 and 11s wherever possible, and send the younger kids home.

shy-but-need-help

mumto2loves wrote: »

how interesting, my daughters school sent a text today saying they will be open on thursday, i didn't even consider that some teachers may be striking and some not within the same school! i thought it would be all or none:p:o
i also didn't realise nurserys would be involved, i haven't heard from my sons one.

I think with ours it's because the nursery is attached to the school and the school is staying open by having supply teachers in to cover striking teachers but they can't legally use supply teachers for nursery (or the note home said something to that effect- can't say I've researched it, just took the headteachers word for it)

tom9980

I dont believe supply teachers are allowed to cover a teacher who is on strike. My partners school is a mixed bag she will not be striking even though she doesnt agree with the cut in pension the kids come first always in her world. In fact the Head isnt meant to know at all who is striking however a lot of teachers are indicating either way to allow the school to plan and help prevent disruption for parents and children.

candygirl

What unions are on strike?

jellyhead

ATL and NUT

shy-but-need-help

tom9980 wrote: »

I dont believe supply teachers are allowed to cover a teacher who is on strike. My partners school is a mixed bag she will not be striking even though she doesnt agree with the cut in pension the kids come first always in her world. In fact the Head isnt meant to know at all who is striking however a lot of teachers are indicating either way to allow the school to plan and help prevent disruption for parents and children.

The way our newsletter put it (about the classes not open) is "I am forbidden by law to put supply teachers in these classes to replace employees taking action" So it may well be that the teachers of those classes are the only ones in the striking union? (or opting to strike?) or that the other classes can be covered by existing class teachers who are in non-striking unions? So you could be right- her statement could well mean she can't legally put in any supply teachers to striking classes, only cover them with existing non-striking staff and I just took it to mean in those age groups.

bonbannah

Teachers who aren't striking are not supposed to be asked to cover striking teachers. Some headteachers/ deputy heads will be trying to cover lessons themselves, even if this means putting two or three classes in the hall and putting a film on.

Schools won't officially know until Monday whether NUT and ATL staff will be striking as this is when negotiations are supposed to take place, so this will explain why some schools haven't even mentioned it yet.

onlyroz

we were told that 6 of the 9 teachers are striking, so the whole school will close

Surfbabe

Staff don't even have to tell the school if they are striking - they can just not turn up. The school I work in is closing one class (our teachers have told the head whether they are striking or not - she is not allowed to ask them if they are - they volunteered the information) and the head is covering another one. You can't use supply teachers to cover and striking staff lose a days pay as well

starsandmoon

My DD's school is shut on Thursday. Luckily its a day I dont work. I can see why they are doing it but if only half of them are striking and some schools stay open I carnt see how they will be taken seriously.