Members of NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union at Farlington School in West Sussex are taking strike action as part of eight days of strike action throughout May over threats to sack staff unless they sign contracts that will leave them with deteriorating working conditions.
 
The Horsham school, which charges as much as £36k a year, wants to only pay teachers just one month’s sick pay on full wages as well as make changes to their contracts under the threat of fire and rehire.  In addition staff would be forced to be in school for longer hours without financial compensation, including attending meetings and training on their days off.
 
Dr Patrick Roach, NASUWT General Secretary, said:

“These unjustified plans are punitive and will damage morale and leave teachers significantly worse off. It is an unjustified attack on those who are the most vulnerable.

“This cannot be acceptable in the 21st century for teachers to be treated in this appalling way.

“NASUWT members have been left with no choice but to take strike action.
 
“We are again asking the Governors to withdraw these disgraceful plans and meet with the NASUWT immediately to agree an acceptable way forward.”

Sade Afolabi, NASUWT National Executive Member for West Sussex, said:

“To take strike action is the last thing that teachers will want to do but they have been forced into this by these cruel changes.
 
"Our members just want to remain on the contracts they are currently employed on. Trying to make sick staff poorer by cutting their salaries is disgraceful and is not something this school should be associated with.
 
“Staff in the school oppose these unacceptable tactics and it is time the Governors saw sense, accepted what they are doing is morally wrong and withdraw the plans.”