School to close for three days as teachers strike
A SCHOOL will shut for three days because of a strike by teachers over planned redundancies.
Teachers are walking out of the classroom from today in support of colleagues not given positions at their re-organised school.
The strike at Tonyrefail School, in Rhondda Cynon Taf, means the school will be shut until Friday, the council confirmed.
Members of the NASUWT, the teachers’ union, said they were walking out in protest over potential redundancies. The union apologised for any disruption to parents and pupils.
The school, which has more than 1,000 pupils aged 11 to 18, is closing at the end of the academic year and reopening as a new school for children aged between three and 18 in September this year.
The NASUWT said four of its members have not been given jobs in the new school.
Chris Keates, NASUWT general secretary, said: “The NASUWT would like to assure parents that the union has done all it can to seek to avoid strike action but I am sure that every parent recognises the importance of protecting the jobs of teachers at the school.
“It is deeply regrettable that neither the council nor the school governing body took steps to ensure that the rebuilding and refurbishing Tonyrefail secondary school and bringing the Tonyrefail primary school onto the same site to create a three to 18 school did not threaten the livelihoods of the staff in both schools.
“All staff could have been transferred into the new build. Instead they have been put through the unjust and unnecessary process of having to apply for their own jobs. Those not appointed are now facing redundancy.”
Rex Phillips, NASUWT national official for Wales, added: “The NASUWT has withdrawn previously planned strike action to provide the council with sufficient time to ensure that no-one remained under the threat of redundancy.
“The council has failed to do so and at least four teachers are still experiencing the distress and anxiety of not knowing what the future holds for them and their families.
“Enough is enough. The teachers deserve better from their employer and it is a tribute to their colleagues who have been told their jobs are secure that they are prepared to stand strong by those still under threat.”
A spokesman for Rhondda Cynon Taf council said: “The council is disappointed to learn of the decision to take strike action by NASUWT Tonyrefail School staff from January 23-25.
“In total 35 of the union’s 39 members at Tonyrefail School have secured roles at the new three-18 school opening in September 2018, which will provide first-class facilities for future generations of pupils to come following a £44m 21st Century Schools investment.
“The council has made it clear to the union that it is committed to seeking alternative employment for the remaining four staff members.
“Given that the internal employment process for the new school has only just ended and the process of seeking this alternative employment has only just begun the council is surprised at the timing of this action by the union and its members. There are still two terms remaining of this academic year to explore these options.
“Furthermore, three of the four roles at the existing Tonyrefail School would have contractually ended in August 2017 but the council chose to keep them on as additional resources to give all staff the opportunity to apply for roles at the new school.
“The council has consulted extensively with teachers over an eightweek period and it was only after this period that the council was informed of the intended industrial action.
“As it stands, due to the number of teaching staff who are members of the union, the governing body and the council have decided Tonyrefail School should close from January 23-25 in the best interests of the safety of pupils, despite the disruption it will cause to their education.
“The school has written to all parents outlining this information and to apologise for the impact this industrial action may have on children’s education and the possible childcare issues that may arise.”