School bosses ‘disgraceful’
UNION HITS OUT AS TEACHERS CONTINUE STRIKE
A TEACHER’s union has called a county school’s management “disgraceful” as staff entered their seventh day of strike action over pensions and working conditions.
Members of the The National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT), at Loughborough Grammar School have been protesting against new pay contracts following two years of failed negotiations with school governors.
A union spokesman said: “We are resisting attempts to force teachers to sign new contracts that would see them with worse pensions and working conditions.”
The independent school charges up to £33,000 per pupil a year but the union alleges “it is trying to get away with disgraceful ‘fire and rehire’ tactics.”
In response to the strike, chairman of governors Sir Trevor Soar said: “It is regrettable after two years of debate and discussion, including dozens of one-to-one meetings, that some of our teachers have decided to take this action.”
The Loughborough School’s Foundation added: “The new pension scheme is, we believe, a good pension offer: the 16.5 per cent employer contribution is larger than that seen in most industries.”
But this is strongly contested by the union which says the new contracts will withdraw staff from the Teachers’ Pension Scheme and it alleges, if staff refuse to sign up, they will face dismissal from their jobs.
This has not been confirmed by the school.
General Secretary of NASUWT, Dr Patrick Roach said: “The behaviour of the senior management at Loughborough Grammar School is completely disgraceful.
“It cannot be acceptable for NASUWT members to be threatened with dismissal unless they accept an inferior pension that will make them poorer.
“The teachers at Loughborough Grammar School care deeply about their pupils, they just want to be treated fairly and valued for their work.
“If the employer has even a shred of decency they will drop these threats immediately, recognise the value of their fantastic workforce and negotiate with us to address their concerns.”
The national president of the union, Phil Kemp, is backing the strike and calls the school’s decision “reprehensible”.
He said: “The employer’s actions in this dispute have been nothing short of reprehensible and our members will continue to stand firm in the face of such appalling arrogance.
“I urge the senior leadership of the school to drop these misguided and ill-advised tactics, get round the table with the NASUWT and we can prevent a deepening of this dispute.”
Around 60 teachers were on strike last week which has been made difficult due to coronavirus safety regulations.
After being advised against a picket line, the teachers carried out a socially-distanced litter pick at Southfields park, near Leicester Road in Loughborough instead.
Some parents joined staff in support of the action and they say, “to give something back to the community they serve”.
The union added: “Members of NASUWT are not currently doing picket lines due to Covid so the litter pick was seen as a safe way to demonstrate their strength of feeling. Around 60 striking staff and parents cleaned the park in small groups.”