my children are being effected by the teachers strike on thursday, and i think its a joke, teachers (fully qualified teachers) are on a lot of money, they dont work during the summer holidays, 9well, apart from the last 2 days of the holidays) they get half term, easter holidays, witsun holidays, why do they want more money "because they are greedy"
here is what i read this 10 minutes ago:
THOUSANDS of lessons will be cancelled and at least 100 schools in Wales closed on Thursday as teachers take part in their first national strike in 21 years.
The National Union of Teachers is organising the walk-out in a dispute over pay.
However, members of the union are far from united on the issue and many of the 16,500 Welsh members are considering not taking part in the industrial action and instead taking lessons as usual.
Around 200,000 ballot papers were issued but fewer than 65,000 members voted. Of those 48,217 voted in favour of strike.
In many local education authorities teachers have until today to inform their headteachers of their intention to strike. However, it already appears that at least 100 schools will be closed and dozens more will have to cancel classes.
The union is striking over a 2.45% pay offer from the Government for teachers in England and Wales 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%.
Other teaching unions accepted the deal which was based on an independent recommendation.
The Association of School and College Leaders called it a “good deal for teachers in the current climate.”
Cardiff, the largest local education authority, will be the hardest hit with more than 60 schools forced to close.
In Rhondda Cynon Taf more than 40 schools are to close and more than 10 will only be partially open. In Newport a further 40 schools will be affected. In Pembrokeshire one secondary school, Ysgol Dewi Sant, will close while classes at many primary schools will be disrupted. Around 190 NUT teachers will be taking strike action in schools in Merthyr Tydfil.
Headteachers make the final decision on whether a school should close based on staffing levels and the health and safety implications. Teachers who are not members of the NUT are expected to attend work as usual.
A spokeswoman for Cardiff council said: “Staff not in the trade union taking action should continue to carry out their normal duties and responsibilities. Such staff must report for work as usual on the strike day. If those staff do not report for work, they are deemed to be taking (unofficial) strike action and appropriate pay deductions will be made. In circumstances where headteachers have decided a school is closed then it will be closed to pupils and other staff will be expected to report for work as normal.”
But one NUT Cymru member from a Newport secondary school, who did not want to be named, was opposed to strike action. “I don’t believe this is the right thing to do. I have really thought about it. I did not vote for the strike and I don’t think I will be taking part. Many of my colleagues feel the same.”
However Christine Blower, acting general secretary of the NUT, is confident that the strike has widespread support and will have an impact in schools across England and Wales adding: “We don’t expect any schools to be unaffected.”
Other teaching unions are reporting a rise in applications for membership since the result of the ballot was published.
The Association of Teachers and Lecturers said membership applications has trebled since the strike was confirmed. And NASUWT Cymru said it had also experienced a rise in applications.
Senior Wales official Rex Phillips said: “We have definitely experienced a rise in applications for membership since the results of the ballot were published.”
Children’s Secretary Ed Balls said: “I’m disappointed at what the NUT is doing, although my disappointment will be shared and multiplied by parents, teachers and headteachers across the country. Teachers are professionals, they have come into teaching because they want the best for children.
“The independent review body made its recommendation, I accepted their recommendation in full.
“Only one in four voted for this strike action; I think the large majority of teachers will think this is the wrong thing to do.”
Among those parents concerned about the strike is Leanne Hancock, a 36-year-old mother of two from Barry.
She fears she will have no choice but to ask 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 she said.”
The proposed teachers’ strike will be the first since 1987, when thousands of children across Wales were sent home from schools.
That industrial action, which took place on the morning of March 17, was in protest at Education Secretary Kenneth Baker’s decision to impose a national pay agreement, and the abolition of the Burnham Committee – the body set up to handle teachers’ negotiations.
Some schools closed entirely, with unions claiming that between 80 and 90% of classes would be cancelled.
Many schools likely to be affected
There are around 16,500 members of the National Union of Teachers in schools in Wales.
It is not yet known how many of the members of the union will be involved in Thursday’s strike. However, nursery, infant, primary, secondary, special schools and Welsh-medium schools will all be affected.
While there are members of the NUT in independent schools, the union does not expect any independent schools in Wales to be affected by the strike.
Headteachers are writing to parents to inform them of the school closures while many local education authorities are hoping to post a list of schools affected on their websites.
---------------------------------
here is what i read this 10 minutes ago:
THOUSANDS of lessons will be cancelled and at least 100 schools in Wales closed on Thursday as teachers take part in their first national strike in 21 years.
The National Union of Teachers is organising the walk-out in a dispute over pay.
However, members of the union are far from united on the issue and many of the 16,500 Welsh members are considering not taking part in the industrial action and instead taking lessons as usual.
Around 200,000 ballot papers were issued but fewer than 65,000 members voted. Of those 48,217 voted in favour of strike.
In many local education authorities teachers have until today to inform their headteachers of their intention to strike. However, it already appears that at least 100 schools will be closed and dozens more will have to cancel classes.
The union is striking over a 2.45% pay offer from the Government for teachers in England and Wales 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%.
Other teaching unions accepted the deal which was based on an independent recommendation.
The Association of School and College Leaders called it a “good deal for teachers in the current climate.”
Cardiff, the largest local education authority, will be the hardest hit with more than 60 schools forced to close.
In Rhondda Cynon Taf more than 40 schools are to close and more than 10 will only be partially open. In Newport a further 40 schools will be affected. In Pembrokeshire one secondary school, Ysgol Dewi Sant, will close while classes at many primary schools will be disrupted. Around 190 NUT teachers will be taking strike action in schools in Merthyr Tydfil.
Headteachers make the final decision on whether a school should close based on staffing levels and the health and safety implications. Teachers who are not members of the NUT are expected to attend work as usual.
A spokeswoman for Cardiff council said: “Staff not in the trade union taking action should continue to carry out their normal duties and responsibilities. Such staff must report for work as usual on the strike day. If those staff do not report for work, they are deemed to be taking (unofficial) strike action and appropriate pay deductions will be made. In circumstances where headteachers have decided a school is closed then it will be closed to pupils and other staff will be expected to report for work as normal.”
But one NUT Cymru member from a Newport secondary school, who did not want to be named, was opposed to strike action. “I don’t believe this is the right thing to do. I have really thought about it. I did not vote for the strike and I don’t think I will be taking part. Many of my colleagues feel the same.”
However Christine Blower, acting general secretary of the NUT, is confident that the strike has widespread support and will have an impact in schools across England and Wales adding: “We don’t expect any schools to be unaffected.”
Other teaching unions are reporting a rise in applications for membership since the result of the ballot was published.
The Association of Teachers and Lecturers said membership applications has trebled since the strike was confirmed. And NASUWT Cymru said it had also experienced a rise in applications.
Senior Wales official Rex Phillips said: “We have definitely experienced a rise in applications for membership since the results of the ballot were published.”
Children’s Secretary Ed Balls said: “I’m disappointed at what the NUT is doing, although my disappointment will be shared and multiplied by parents, teachers and headteachers across the country. Teachers are professionals, they have come into teaching because they want the best for children.
“The independent review body made its recommendation, I accepted their recommendation in full.
“Only one in four voted for this strike action; I think the large majority of teachers will think this is the wrong thing to do.”
Among those parents concerned about the strike is Leanne Hancock, a 36-year-old mother of two from Barry.
She fears she will have no choice but to ask 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 she said.”
The proposed teachers’ strike will be the first since 1987, when thousands of children across Wales were sent home from schools.
That industrial action, which took place on the morning of March 17, was in protest at Education Secretary Kenneth Baker’s decision to impose a national pay agreement, and the abolition of the Burnham Committee – the body set up to handle teachers’ negotiations.
Some schools closed entirely, with unions claiming that between 80 and 90% of classes would be cancelled.
Many schools likely to be affected
There are around 16,500 members of the National Union of Teachers in schools in Wales.
It is not yet known how many of the members of the union will be involved in Thursday’s strike. However, nursery, infant, primary, secondary, special schools and Welsh-medium schools will all be affected.
While there are members of the NUT in independent schools, the union does not expect any independent schools in Wales to be affected by the strike.
Headteachers are writing to parents to inform them of the school closures while many local education authorities are hoping to post a list of schools affected on their websites.
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