Worthing teachers announce midweek walkout (From The Argus)

Worthing teachers announce midweek walkout

12:30pm Monday 9th July 2012 in News By Anna Roberts, Crime reporter

Teachers have announced plans to go on strike this week.

A walkout has been planned for Wednesday at Worthing High School.

Children at the school were sent home with letters confirming that teacher’s union NASUWT had announced the date for the strike.

Headteacher Alison Beer told parents in a letter: “I can confirm that the planned strike action on Wednesday will go ahead.

“As you may be aware, I was attempting to open the school as usual. However, the NASUWT area secretary has declined to allow members to release details of both their name and whether they intend to strike or not.

“I am therefore unable to tell which members of staff are going to be attending or not and so cannot make any plans to accommodate students in a safe manner.

“Therefore, unfortunately, I have no choice but to close the school to all students on Wednesday. All staff not striking will be expected in school planning and preparing for September 2012.”

Teachers voted in favour of industrial action over plans to turn the school into an academy.

As reported in The Argus last month 97% of NASUWT members- which represents about half the teaching staff – voted in favour of industrial action if bosses did not agree to further discussion on the plans.

Despite heavy opposition from parents and teachers, the school’s board of governors voted to accept the move to an academy last month.

Parents voiced their views on the dispute on Facebook.

One woman said: “It’s the insidious undermining of teachers’ pay and conditions as well as the near-on zero discussions with all professional teaching staff that does the most damage.

“There is less and less courtesy (via imposing academy status) shown to the very dedicated hard-working teaching staff who are expected to accept new unfair and divisive pay/conditions.”

Another woman added: “I think it is a really good school and the conversion to the academy will be a good thing.”

No one from Worthing High School was available to comment to The Argus.

Do you think teachers should go on strike?