Parents' anger at school strikes

Apr 22 2008 by Moira Sharkey, South Wales Echo

THE first national teachers’ strike in 21 years looks set to disrupt lessons in hundreds of schools in South Wales this week.

Parents will have to take time off work or foot childcare bills as schools close due to a planned walk-out by members of the National Union of Teachers – the largest teaching union in Wales and England.

A ballot of the 255,000 members – including 16,500 in Wales – found three-quarters of those who voted were in favour of a one-day strike planned for Thursday. Cardiff, which has the highest number of schools, will be the hardest hit with more than 60 schools closed and dozens more only partially opened.

In Rhondda Cynon Taf 41 nursery, infant, junior, primary and secondary schools will be closed. In Merthyr Tydfil around 190 NUT teachers will be taking strike action – nine schools will be closed and lessons in 19 will be disrupted.

The union is taking the action over what it says is a below inflation pay rise for its members. Other unions have accepted the pay deal.

The full list of school closures is still unclear with many local education authorities still in talks with headteachers to find out what staffing levels will be like on Thursday.

Leanne Hancock, a 36-year-old mum of two from Barry, said she’ll be forced to impose on relatives to act as carers for her nine-year-old son Kallum and 11-year-old daughter Aimee.

“My work hours are tailored around getting my kids to and from school, so without my mum to help out I’d have to use up some of my annual leave and stay home.” But Margaret Morrissey, spokesperson for the National Confederation of PTAs, said parents should be demanding answers from their local authorities as to which schools are to shut.

“They should really have been asking tough questions this morning, just so they can ensure they’ve a backup ready because I can’t see this strike not happening,” she said.

She added that the walkout also comes right in the middle of exam season, with thousands of teenagers preparing for their GCSEs and A-levels.

“It’s a bit hypocritical that some schools have complained in the past about parents taking their children away on holiday during term time, and now they’re doing this,” she said. “There does seem to be an awful lot of support and sympathy for the teachers among our members, but if the childrens’ education starts to suffer who knows how long that will last?”

Children’s Secretary Ed Balls said: “I’m very disappointed and I think that parents across the country are disappointed. I’m on the side of parents who will be disappointed if their children’s education is disrupted on Thursday because we have decided to accept an independent pay review.

“The majority of teachers do not want to strike.”

The Government accepted independent recommendations for a three-year pay award with a 2.45% rise in September and 2.3% in the following two years.

Iwan Guy, acting director of the National Association of Head Teachers, said: “We understand fully the decision of the NUT to call a strike but are also aware that not all of its members will be taking part in the one-day walkouts.”

“The NAHT wouldn’t do anything to interfere with or block the decisions of another union.

“Every head teacher will have already contacted their LEA or governing body and now has to make their own individual risk assessment in deciding whether their school should close for the day, or if it can stay open with only some classes functioning.”

Why are the teachers striking?
THERE are about 16,500 members of the National Union of Teachers in schools in Wales.

The union is striking over a 2.45% pay offer from the Government for teachers in Wales and England this year, with further rises of 2.3% in 2009 and 2010.

Officials say it is below the rate of retail price inflation, which stands at around 4% and are looking to the Government to increase its offer.

The union balloted around 200,000 members. Of those less than 65,000 members voted. Of those 48,217 voted in favour of strike.

Schools with large numbers of NUT members are being closed to pupils but non-members of the NUT are being asked to attend.

Other teaching unions have accepted the Government pay deal with the Association of School and College leaders calling it a “good deal for teachers in the current climate”.

The NASUWT Cymru and Welsh-language teaching union Ucac accepted the pay deal but stated publicly they were not happy with the offer.

Wales NASUWT officer Geraint Davies has said the offer compares favourably with a large number of other workers in the public sector.

Page 2 - Which schools will be closed?