A small number of retired and non-retired teaching and support staff from the Isle of Wight crossed the Solent on Thursday morning to join those taking part in historic strike action at Portsmouth High School.
National Education Union members working in Girls’ Day School Trust’s 23 independent schools took part in the action in a bid to keep their present pension rights. It was the first day of 6 scheduled strikes.
Peter Shreeve, Assistant District Secretary of the National Education Union, has said:
“This is the first day of strike action in the Trust’s 149-year history. Staff gathered outside several school entrances, in order to explain their position. Many members of the public stopped to enquire what was going on – the overwhelming vast majority indicating support.
“Drivers tooted horns and local inhabitants preparing for their day waved and smiled from their windows opposite school gates. Several young people on their way to school were keen to understand what was happening and were sympathetic to the pensions issue.
“Strike action is regrettable, but any pension cuts are undesirable. If enacted, they will be extremely costly to staff. In addition, it will certainly impact on future staff recruitment and hurt pupils education.
“Today, around the country, GDST teachers, parents and alumnae showed their strength of feeling. This is set to continue with further strike days on 23 and 24 February and in early March. But this can all be averted if the Trust withdraws its plan fully and without caveat and immediately.
“Ultimately, membership of teacher’s pensions is the expectation of most teachers nationally. It is “affordable” for the GDST, as the Trust’s finances are in “good health”.
Article continues below this advertisement “The Girls’ Day School Trust is a registered charity. Teaching staff there are not! They need pension security and pension equity, which the national pension scheme provides.”
So will the teachers be receiving fines for taking themselves out of school in term time, in the same way that parents are penalised?
Some are retired. The others, yes double standards.
Sorry how do you know they work in a state school? The school they are protesting at is a public school. Fines don’t apply. Anyway they might be on their day off or retired as the article states.
No, because it’s a private school and they tend not to take parents to court like local authorities do.
At least the kids can have a few hours break from the “woke” brainwashing which is passed off as education these days.
Do they really care about the children’s education? I don’t think so and why are retired workers there.
So, my question is who is teaching the kids whilst these teachers are in Portsmouth? If l took my child out of school for the day I would receive a hefty fine but it’s ok for teachers to do it as Fred said double standards