On Monday 9th March, teachers from NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union at Ysgol Emrys Ap Iwan will take a day of strike action in protest of the continuous bullying and intimidation they face from the school’s leadership team.
NASUWT Cymru has had concerns about the wellbeing of members at the school for a long time. Following a rushed restructure where management positions were removed but management work was not, teachers experienced increased workloads and problems with school systems and policies. When they raised concerns, they were penalised by senior leaders.
The union has tried to work with leaders to resolve these issues but does not believe that the restructuring consultation was meaningful. Progress made at meetings does not seem to be translated to the workplace.
Matt Wrack, General Secretary of NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union, said:
“All the teachers at Ysgol Emrys Ap Iwan want to do is teach. Instead, they are subject to a persistent culture of insidious intimidation, where classroom observation is wielded as a weapon and senior leaders behave duplicitously and in bad faith. This is not a safe working environment for our members, and we fear it is designed with intent.
“When needed, good teachers raise concerns about issues in their schools. This is standard practice. Senior leaders have created problems within the school with the potential to impact the wellbeing of both staff and pupils, and the fact that our teachers consistently raise their voices to highlight these problems – despite the bullying they face – is testament to both their tenacity and their care for the school.
“The only way to resolve this issue is for leaders and governors to get back around the table with NASUWT reps and engage in good faith. Our members need assurance that they will no longer be bullied or penalised for simply doing their jobs.”
Neil Butler, NASUWT National Official for Wales, said:
“Teachers at Ysgol Emrys Ap Iwan feel constantly watched but rarely listened to. They fear raising concerns, though they have no choice but to do so, and some have even feared for their jobs. Incidents have involved the senior leadership team grouping together to threaten teachers during meetings.
“NASUWT has made every attempt to avoid strike action at the school. We have waited and negotiated, but promises from leadership have proven empty. The teachers cannot continue in a workplace with such low morale. On top of their significantly increased workloads, they now suffer from considerable work-related stress and anxiety. Relationships between teachers and leaders have almost irretrievably broken down.
“Good leaders build the confidence of their staff. They do not build structures that penalise, victimise and micromanage. Ysgol Emrys Ap Iwan is in desperate need of good leadership; the teachers, school staff, pupils and local community deserve nothing less. But right now, that leadership is in very short supply.”
