Local Authority & ancillary school staff industrial action - Wednesday 20th August

18th August 2008, 2:50pm

Lazy bastards have just had six weeks holiday and are now having another day on Wednesday because they don't think they get enough holiday or pay or conditions or some shit like that.

I jest. Findlay brought a letter home saying that industrial action on Wednesday is likely, I did a quick google check and it's Unite the union, GMB and Unison who are striking over the national pay award so it's not solely schools that will be affected - most local authority services will be too. Findlay's school has said they can't accept pupils if the strike goes ahead so I'd assume all schools will be the same.

endemoniada · 18th August 2008, 2:53pm

I found a letter in Eva's schoolbag to the same effect.

18th August 2008, 2:55pm

I'm actually surprised I hadn't heard about it through work tbh, we work directly with service providers in the LAs and nobody cracked a light to us.

endemoniada · 18th August 2008, 2:57pm

I had heard a rumour last week, tbh, thought it only affected Glasgow schools.

Fortunately, I'm off this week

Hammer · 18th August 2008, 2:58pm

'mon the strikers

Don't assume all schools will be closed though. It's generally up to the individual head teachers.

18th August 2008, 3:01pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hammer

'mon the strikers

Don't assume all schools will be closed though. It's generally up to the individual head teachers.

They can't open if there's no office staff, no catering staff, no classroom assistants etc. I'd be very surprised if any school in a major location manages to stay open while this goes ahead.

Hammer · 18th August 2008, 3:04pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vonnie

They can't open if there's no office staff, no catering staff, no classroom assistants etc. I'd be very surprised if any school in a major location manages to stay open while this goes ahead.

They can, and they have in the past.

A lot of school employees are employed through agencies or not directly employed by local authorities.

18th August 2008, 3:13pm

Unison press release here

endless psych · 18th August 2008, 3:22pm

150000 Unison members in Scotland half of which (or thereabouts 70,000) will be on strike.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vonnie

They can't open if there's no office staff, no catering staff, no classroom assistants etc. I'd be very surprised if any school in a major location manages to stay open while this goes ahead.

Most schools in Aberdeenshite will be closed as the Jannies are out as apparently Jannies being out the equals schools closed.

18th August 2008, 3:37pm

The figures I saw earlier quoted 200,000 walking out, I don't know if that's a gross overexaggeration or if that's just what'll come of GMB and Unite the Union walking out too.

stripey_kitten · 18th August 2008, 4:32pm

Don't think we're closing.

Esme · 18th August 2008, 4:41pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vonnie

They can't open if there's no office staff, no catering staff, no classroom assistants etc. I'd be very surprised if any school in a major location manages to stay open while this goes ahead.

Today I was told that secondary schools in North Lan have to open and kids are being asked to bring packed lunches.

It's an absolute disgrace - a health and safey nightmare, nevermind undermining the rights of those staff to strike and others not to be made cross their picket line.

Fremlin · 18th August 2008, 5:26pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Esme

It's an absolute disgrace - a health and safey nightmare, nevermind undermining the rights of those staff to strike and others not to be made cross their picket line.

Can you imagine the outcry if someone actually gets injured due to the lack of Janitor etc staff.

Esme · 18th August 2008, 6:15pm

Looks like a few councils are keeping schools open:

Highlands say they will keep schools open:http://www.highland.gov.uk/yourcounc...8-08-15-09.htm

As do Edinburgh:
http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/internet...ustrial_action

Yet both are closing many other services. There will be no funerals or cash office, but kids are supposed to go into schools without access to enough toilets, lunches, proper supervision etc (some kinds of support staff in many councils have a supervision function at lunchtimes)

There will be no cleaners to clean up spillages, so kids could fall and hurth themselves.
Without an office staff, there may not be a proper register recorded, and so no proper list for the fire services in the event of an alarm.

Poor show indeed. Trying to undermine the importance of the workers by carrying on regardless.

ElegantlyRotten · 19th August 2008, 10:17pm

My mum doesn't seem to think her school will close.