Teachers start two-day strike over 'adverse management practices' at Northamptonshire primary school

The NASUWT say ‘adverse management practices’ are affecting teachers’ health and working conditions leading to stage two of their industrial action.

Today, instead of being in classrooms, striking Meadowside Primary’s NASUWT members stood outside the main entrance to highlight their grievances.

Alan Hackett, NASUWT national executive member for Northamptonshire, said: "This is the second phase of our industrial action at Meadowside Primary School. We’ve attempted to negotiate with senior management here, but negotiations have stalled because they are very reluctant to agree to any of our concessions that we are trying to get from them."

Meadowside Primary’s NASUWT members took a day of strike action on November 4, but agreed to withdraw a further five days of planned action as a ‘gesture of goodwill’ after the employer offered further talks.

Since then, they say 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, they say further strike action has become ‘necessary’.

NASUWT teachers at Meadowside have been working to rule, an ongoing programme of action short of strike action which began on October 29, withdrawing from specific non-teaching activities which they believe are driving up their workloads and distracting them from focusing on teaching and learning.

Actions include stopping unlocking and locking school gates, only doing assemblies if they are on the senior leadership team, pausing their appraisal process and only attending staff meetings for a maximum of 60 minutes.

Mr Hackett added: “People are being held back with their pay progression to an extent where over a period of five years they could be losing out as much as £5,500 which obviously, in these days of austerity, can have a major effect on their pensions.

“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.

“This is planned for two days and after Christmas, we’ve got a mandate to continue so if negotiations fail, then will be looking to do a three-day strike action in January.”

Meadowside Primary School is still under the governance of the local authority, North Northamptonshire Council.