Britain – The National Union of Teachers (NUT) is calling its members to go on a strike on July 5, 2016. After trying to negotiate the necessary educational budget with the authorities, NUT held an electoral process to decide their future moves, and more than 90% of the voters supported strike actions. However, only 24.5% of the members cast their votes, so there are certain protocols to follow next Tuesday.

It is important to understand that the interruption of classes is not mandatory. NUT said that the decision of closing the doors would be ultimately taken by the school board or head teacher. To avoid putting an undue burden on caretakers and parents, the organization suggests the institution that is going to take part in the strike to communicate their intentions to the community so that people can take proper precautions.

There is no way to tell how many schools are going to attend the call because the National Union of Teachers has members all around the country. Image Credit: Independent
There is no way to tell how many schools are going to attend the call because the National Union of Teachers has members all around the country. Image Credit: Independent

Some schools are going to close their doors entirely while others are going to go on a partial strike which would only affect some of the courses. For example, Upton High School has already informed the parents the school is going to close partially. Members can be found at almost all levels of primary education, so it is in the best interest of the communities to check with their local schools for more information. School staffs participating in the strike are not going to get paid that day

“Industrial action causes disruption to children’s education and parents who have to take time out of work to arrange childcare, we urge the NUT not to proceed with this strike and to resolve pay disputes at the negotiating table rather than playing politics with children’s futures,” a Department of Education spokesman told the press.

The teachers claim a strike is the last resort

NUT has members in quite a lot of schools, and if they all decide to hit, it will complicate things for a lot of people. That is why the decision is resulting in community backlash on the educators. However, these professionals have been trying to negotiate fair work conditions with the Department of Education for years without success. There are many complaints, old and new, but it all comes to money. It is a well-known fact that teachers are underpaid.

In recent years, the salary and the pensions of the educators have reduced considerably while the workload has continuously been increasing. To improve the level of education in the country, the government has established a lot of new rules and regulations on the education sector which is fantastic.

Institutions have had to improve their facilities, update their methods, and the teachers have had to prepare themselves further and develop new skills, and all of that costs money. In contrast, the Department of Education has been reducing the budget for education nationwide, so schools have had to reduce its payroll, and cut on salaries to comply with the new requisites. This is one of the main reasons teachers decided to go on a strike, but there is more.

Institutions have had to improve their facilities, update their methods, and the teachers have had to prepare themselves further and develop new skills, and all of that costs money. In contrast, the Department of Education has been reducing the budget for education nationwide, so schools have had to reduce its payroll, and cut on salaries to comply with the new requisites. This is one of the main reasons teachers decided to go on a strike, but there is more.

A protester poses for a photo with her sign showing a little play on words. Image Credit: Mirror
A protester poses for a photo with her sign showing a little play on words. Image Credit: Mirror

Institutions have had to improve their facilities, update their methods, and the teachers have had to prepare themselves further and develop new skills, and all of that costs money. In contrast, the Department of Education has been reducing the budget for education nationwide, so schools have had to reduce its payroll, and cut on salaries to comply with the new requisites. This is one of the main reasons teachers decided to go on a strike, but there is more.

The authorities are considering to extend the label of “academy” to most schools in the country which would allow them to take necessary decisions over its policies. Things like pensions, permits, rest days and many other work plans would be regulated by the heads of the institutions, and teachers are very concerned about this. They claim school boards could stop focusing on what is best for the students and instead, use educational centers as money-making machines.

Even if they don’t, it will give head teachers and executive boards total control over the income of thousands of professionals without having to answer to national standards.

They claim school-boards could stop focusing on what is best for the students and instead, use educational centers as money-making machines. Even if they don’t, it will give head teachers and executive boards total control over the income of thousands of professionals without having to answer to national standards.

“This is a dispute with central government over changes to teachers’ pay, pensions and conditions. The council hopes any disruption to pupils will be minimized and is advising schools to keep parents etc, fully advised of any closures or partial closures,” said Jonathan Bacon, Council Leader and Executive member of Children’s Service.

The teachers gave the authorities an option to avoid the strike

The National Union of Teachers wrote a letter addressed to Nicky Morgan, the Education Secretary, on June 28, 2016. The note informed the authorities about the strike scenario and carefully explained the motives behind the action. The missive also offered an emergency exit which would prevent them from stopping classes.

First, they told Mr. Morgan that the government had to adjust the educational budget to cover the minimum requirements imposed by the state. Secondly, they demanded authorities to inform all the educational institutes they had to

First, they told Mr. Morgan that the government had to adjust the educational budget to cover the minimum requirements imposed by the state. Secondly, they demanded authorities to inform all the educational institutes they had to abide to national terms and conditions to make policies. Lastly, the teachers want to finally engage into formal negotiations to further solve issues they have been protesting for years.

Source: Telegraph