Members of NASUWT - The Teachers’ Union at Meadowside Primary School in Kettering will be taking further strike action on 15th and 16th December over adverse management practices which are affecting teachers’ health and working conditions.

NASUWT teachers at Meadowside took a day of strike action on 4th November, but agreed to withdraw a further five days of planned strike action as a gesture of goodwill after the employer offered further talks. However, since then the school management has failed to put in place any effective measures to address the issues of excessive workload, a lack of transparency and effective communication and lack of career progression.

As a result, further strike action has become necessary.

Matt Wrack, NASUWT General Secretary, said:
 
“In a bid to resolve this dispute, we agreed to withdraw five days of planned strike action to allow for further talks and for action to be put in place to create the professional and respectful working environment to which our members have the right to expect.

“However, there has been no change in the behaviour and attitude of school management towards staff, which has made further strike action unavoidable.

“The management of the school are responsible for any further disruption caused by this strike action. Our members want to be in the classroom teaching pupils, but they cannot continue to work in a culture which is eroding their morale, welfare and ability to do their job.”

Alan Hackett, NASUWT National Executive Member for Northamptonshire, said:
 
“Our members have been repeatedly let down by the management of the school, who to date have proved they are not serious or genuine about wanting to resolve this dispute.

“The employer needs to understand that it cannot continue to get away with riding roughshod over the basic rights and entitlements of its staff. Teachers, pupils and families deserve better and our members will continue to fight to secure the positive culture change the whole school community at Meadowside needs.”