With strike action planned by UNISON on Tuesday I’m wondering how this is affecting other schools. Current advice from NUT (as of 4.30 today when I rang to ask the local regional office) was to cross the picket line, but not to do any tasks that those on strike would normally do.
The reason for the strike is a good one: Although other public sector workers (like teachers) have been guaranteed protection
for existing members, the government and employers are threatening to
attack the Local Government Pension Scheme with no proper protection.
Under the banner Unions Together Fighting to Protect Our Pensions,
UNISON has been joined by the Association of Educational Psychologists, the
Community and Youth Workers Union, the GMB, the National Association of
Probation Officers, the Northern Ireland Public Services Alliance, the
NUT(?), TGWU and construction workers’ union UCATT. Amicus is also
supporting the action.
How can we be supporting the action? If school opens and the children all come then it’s hardly going to make a point is it to the parents etc? If we have no first aiders on premises does that mean we can’t open? What about no caretaker?
I want to support those members striking but all I’m going to end up doing is crossing the picket line and lowering the impact of the strike. Any views / advice on this…
The NUT advice is quite clear, that all union members should respect the actions of another unions members and not fill in for them during their absence. This is the best way we can support their action. In most cases, because of the unions involved, it means schools with no caretaker, lunchtime staff, first aiders, SEN support etc… and so schools cannot open. At the end of the day the head must assess the health and safty implications and act accordingly. We cannot strike in sympathy with other workers (it is against the law) but we can support their cause by refusing to cover lunchtimes etc in their absence.
I know many people in schools feel that it is the children who suffer too, however surely if staff are not valued for the contributions they make to childrens education we will not recruit and motivate the highly competent staff we need – ultimatly meaning children suffer more!
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I recommend that you ask the Head (and maybe the chair of Governors) to confirm that they have carried out a risk assessment for opening the school when the caretaker will not have opened up, the toilets will not have been cleaned, the meals will not be cooked, and the teaching assistants will not be there to support the teachers.
If they cannot confirm that they are providing a safe workplace, then protect yourself by not putting yourself at risk. If they think that they can provide a safe workplace, and are brave enough to put it in writing (and thus taking personal responsibility for any child or teaching staff injured on 28th March) then the striking unions would appreciate a financial contribution to the hardship funds.
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