Teachers at Langdon school in Newham have been involved in an ongoing industrial dispute involving extensive strike action over December. The dispute over management practices and heavy workload has escalated and teachers are taking twenty days strike action up to December 20th, when the school closes for the holidays.
The action received extremely strong backing with 88% of teachers voting for the action on an 80% turnout with dozens attending the picket lines. The union has been deluged with over 200 messages of support since the action began and Newham NUT voted 90 to 0 to support the strike action.
Peter Smith, Newham NUT Divisional Secretary said: “The bullying tactics by the School in dealing with the strike action is another example of the oppressive management our members experience on a daily basis. NUT members simply wish to work in an environment which will enable them to do what they do best: that is teaching the students at the School to improve their life chances. The continuation of the bullying atmosphere at the school, leaves me with no opportunity but to request that our members now be balloted for continuous strike action.”
In an unprecedented move the Local Authority has engaged 46 casual staff members to work during the strike to keep the school with around 1,800 pupils open. It’s reported that these stand in teachers had not been informed that they would be covering for a strike action and included some trade union members.
Newham teachers on the march last week
0 Comments
You can be the first one to leave a comment.