Teachers at top private school threaten strike
TEACHERS at a top girls’ school could strike in a row over pensions and an alleged notice to “fire and rehire” noncompliant staff.
On Monday, the National Education Union (NEU) opened an indicative ballot for its members at Howell’s School, Llandaff, in Cardiff, on strike action.
The private school, established in 1860, is part of the Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST), a national organisation comprising 23 mainly single-sex independent schools in Wales and England.
The proposed walkout, which is being voted on in all 23 schools, comes after the GDST announced plans to withdraw from the Teachers Pension Scheme (TPS) as it has been “grappling” with the increased cost of the scheme since 2019.
Critics have argued the decision is “unnecessary” as the trust’s public finances are “healthy”. They have also expressed concern about what they claim is a “threat to fire and rehire” staff who do not accept the new pension proposals.
The vote will remain open until December 6 and could lead to the first strike in the trust’s 149-year history.
According to a report by Tes, the GDST announced its proposal to withdraw from the TPS in September following the UK government’s decision to raise the rate of employers’ contributions by 43% in 2019.
The report explains that, while state schools are covered for the increase, independent schools are not – so some schools have either withdrawn or are considering a withdrawal to cut costs.
In a statement, the GDST said it was “not alone” in its proposal, with 280 private schools having already dropped out of the scheme and “many more” planning to leave or in consultation with teachers.
The trust initiated a “collective consultation process” with teachers on the withdrawal in September, which lasts until January 2022.
But in a statement on its website, the NEU claims the GDST “has not provided any documentary evidence to substantiate their claim that the TPS is unaffordable”. It argues the TPS is a “fundamental” part of a teacher’s contract and a “dealbreaker” for many of those employed by the Trust.
The union believes the move would leave teachers with a “significant pay cut” and worse off than their counterparts in local state schools.
But in its statement to the Western Mail, the GDST insists it is offering an “excellent alternative to the TPS” that will give teachers a “comfortable retirement”.
The union’s statement adds that teachers are “shocked” by a legal notice issued at the start of the consultation which revealed the trust’s alleged intention to use the “morally objectionable” practice of “fire and rehire” against staff to enforce the contractual change.
“It is the first ever national ballot on strike action in GDST 149-year history, which shows the depth of feeling and anger this proposal has created amongst staff,” reads the statement.
But in its statement, the trust says it “misleading” for the NEU to claim it will “fire and rehire” staff, and insists it is following a “legal process” and is committed to a “transparent consultation”.
Commenting on the move to an indicative ballot in all 23 schools, Kevin Courtney, of the NEU, said: “The proposal by the GDST to leave theTPS is an unnecessary decision.
“There is no imperative reason to leave the scheme. The trust’s finances are healthy as can be seen in their public accounts. No evidence to the contrary has been provided to staff or the NEU. To add insult to injury, at the very start of the consultation the employer served legal notice of their intention to ‘fire and rehire’ teachers who do not accept the new pension proposals.
“Our members are aggrieved that they worked so hard during the pandemic to maintain girls’ education, earning the gratitude of parents, and this is their reward.
“We continue to engage with the employer and sincerely hope we can persuade the trust to withdraw their plan to remove our members’ pension rights under the TPS.”
GDST chief excutive Cheryl Giovannoni said in a statement to the Western Mail: “The GDST has begun consultation with our teachers and their recognised trade union, the NEU, across our 23 independent schools. Teachers have always been key to the success of the GDST family of schools and we recognise and value their incredible contribution and dedication to the education of the girls in our schools.
“We are committed to a full and robust consultation. In doing so, we are following due process as required by our Recognition Agreement with the NEU and according to legislation. To ensure transparency, we have shared in detail our case for change and extensive consultation material with our teachers as well as the NEU. It is misleading for the NEU to claim the GDST is carrying out a ‘fire and rehire’ exercise. There is a legal process we must follow, which includes notifying the NEU in a section 188 letter of a potential contractual change. This by no means indicates a pre-determined outcome, but reflects our commitment to a meaningful and transparent consultation process.
“All the views and feedback of teachers and the NEU are being shared with GDST Trustees, who will make the final decision on whether to move forward with the proposed GDST flexible pension plan at the end of the collective consultation process.”
few years ago the building was a branch of the Juboraj Indian restaurant and it’s since been redeveloped into luxury flats.
The plaque reads: “In the difficult days following the war 1939-1945, Abel Magneron, 1890-1954, here achieved a gastronomic standard which contributed to the further glory of the Entente Cordiale.”
There aren’t many chefs who can say their cooking has contributed to world peace are there?
Looking back through the archives
“The estimated journey time of this service is 26 minutes. Notable bus services from within Caerphilly borough to Newport include the number 50, 56, and 151.”
He said the current situation is not something he is content with and in order to advance talks, more meetings are in the pipeline. of the South Wales Echo from the 1980s, tales of Magneron’s legendary status were often featured in the late Dan O’Neill’s Talking Cardiff column.
Magneron, a former chef to Prime Minister David Lloyd George, leased The Big Windsor Hotel from the Mount Stuart Dry Docks after World War II. He ran the restaurant with his wife Madeleine and daughter Marcelle and they specialised in French cooking.
According to Dan O’Neill, they had numerous VIP customers.
“During its post-war peak days [The Big Windsor Hotel] was known around the world as one of the great gourmet centres, enticing showbiz
During the meeting Councillor Kevin Etheridge for Blackwood said: “It is important that all residents of the county borough are treated equally.”
Speaking to the Echo, Cllr Pritchard said: “The current situation is not acceptable and its disappointing there was a lack of foresight stars like [Richard] Burton and [Stanley] Baker to meals prepared by Abel Magneron, “Papa” Magneron, the chef who outdid his home country with his French cuisine,” said O’Neill.
O’Neill also praised the quality of Magneron’s cooking.
“Abel was a French chef, which is like saying Picasso was a bit of a painter. He was an artist, and his magic made a dockland public-house world famous,” he said.
The writer and sports commentator GV Wynne-Jones was also a regular customer at The Big Windsor. He told the South Wales Echo: “All the regulars called Monsieur Magneron Papa Magneron. He was such a when preparing to build the hospital.
“What I hope will come out of these discussions will be a direct cross – valley service to the hospital, which cuts down travelling time. Talks are at a preliminary stage, but all parties are working to achieve this outcome.” cheery chap and a tremendous character.”
According to one story from Magneron’s daughter, a customer travelled all the way from Baghdad to experience the cooking at The Big Windsor Hotel.
“I remember one occasion when a gentleman came in and said he had heard about our food from someone famous. I asked him if he had booked and he said he had not but he had come rather a long way. I was used to people saying that so I did not pay much attention, but then he told me he had come from Baghdad!” she said.
“I could not turn him away after that so I set up a small card table for him in the corner and he had a meal on the house. I thought he deserved it having come so far.”
Sadly, Abel Magneron was killed in a car crash in France in 1954 and the plaque was placed on the front of the Windsor in his memory.
It was paid for by the Welsh aviation pioneer Kenneth Davies who founded Cambrian Airways, an airline which was based at Cardiff ’s Municipal Airport in Tremorfa.
Madame Magneron continued to run the restaurant until she retired and the new owners kept up the traditional French cooking until the building closed due to a fire in 1967.