Q about the strike!

[cassa333]

Not sure where to put this so if it should be moved elsewhere please let me know.

The letter I got from school stated that the union or members are under no obligation to tell the head teacher they are taking industrial action. So they decided to shut the school.

Does that mean no one from the school is on strike? and if that is so do they get paid?

[sara3]

strikes are meant to inconvenience people so the school may not know who might be in or out.

if you go on strike, you don't get paid. if you go in, you get paid.

[cassa333]

But the school is shut. How can they know who is on strike or not if the school is shut?

[sara3]

because there will still be a door for them to go in!

people will be in there.

[cassa333]

So what you're saying is that the pupils are off but the teachers (and other staff) have to go to school to be eligable to get paid?

[AB Editor]

Yep, that's how it works.

The staff who are in are likely to be loving all the extra time the strike has given them to make lesson plans and catch up on paperwork.

Spare.

[cassa333]

Oh.

I'm a lunch time supervisor and we were told not to come in but we will get paid!!

[factor-fiction]

If teachers didn't inform the school that they were striking and then didn't report for work then it would be unauthorised absence so would be unpaid and disciplinary action could follow.

The Heads had to make a judgment earlier in the week. Some would have felt they couldn't risk leaving the school open if there was a likelihood that staffing levls would be inadequate.

My school was shut but non-striking teachers had to attend or we would have been in breach of contract. We had a full day in, we had to be in on time, wear usual suits, and leave at the normal time (in fact we had an after-school meeting which overran). We used the time to catch up on marking of hundreds of books and change the layout of some classrooms, and we were given projects to do that were not initially due to start until September.

[Eve]

The question was asked at my place although people didn't have to answer - part of the disabling aspect of the strike, they don't have to say so it's potentially more disruptive as employers have no idea who is going to turn up or not.

It was very quiet at our place today, a lot of people not in so the few left in just all mucked in and got things done as best we could - not a school though so no risk of having insufficient staff to make sure the children are properly looked after.

If there is a decision to shut it would seem unfair in the circumstances to penalise other members of staff who aren't in the union so not striking (or even in the union but not striking) by docking their pay.

[buildersmate]

If you made it clear as a lunch-time supervisor that you were willing to come in but were told by the employer that the workplace was being shut, you WILL be paid. Simple.

[RATTER15]

All strikers should be sacked !!!!!!

Remember the 70!!!

[jackthehat]

That's overly simplistic, Ratter.

It is the single thing that most employees can hold over their employers: every person has a right to withhold their labour if they are unhappy with (usually) enforced, rather than negotiated, terms.

[RATTER15]

if you aren't happy with your employer or terms of employment then leave.

If any one of my employees went on strike, no hesitation, out the door!!!

I would never be dictated too by an employee, however I never had any problems with employees they were treated well, that's how you keep them happy.

[jackthehat]

Well, you've just answered your own argument........

These 'employees' are not being treated well by their employers (they feel).

[RATTER15]

So they should leave, not hold their employers to ransom. I still say sack the lot!!

[jackthehat]

Quite right!
Walk out of a job where the employer (D. Turpin plc) is holding you to ransom and see how far 'that' gets you with DWP!!

[RATTER15]

I once asked a boss of mine for a rise, he replied: I decide how my money is going to be earned without your advice, I also decide how my money is going to be spent, unfortunately for you it wont be spent giving you a pay rise. I actually agreed with him and never forgot his words.