Should teaching unions strike to defend their pay and conditions?

I listened to someone from the ATL passionately defend their decision to take strike action. Asked if the union really had a mandate as only 35% of members had voted, she replied that many MPs would be grateful for such a mandate, the point was accepted and the debate moved on. I wonder if the EIS would like to comment on this?

airy

They already have. Former president Kay Barnett (the one who met privately with Alex Salmond the week before the sell-out) called for unity in the broad church that is the EIS yada yada yada and other vomit-inducing platitudes. What was the quote from Jonathan Swift? “I never wonder at the wickedness of (wo) men but I often wonder that they be no more ashamed.”

Dominie

When exactly is the tough-talking SSTA balloting its members on strike action on pay and conditions? I note that the last emergency motion passed at the SSTA AGM talks about, “fighting injustice” . How will it do this? Handing Cosla a punishment exercise? Giving Mike Russell the 1,000 yard stare? Give me a break. Has the SSTA given us any alternative suggestion as to how to proceed? Not a bit of it. The bark of the SSTA is much louder than its bite.

readyforthe weekend

When they ask us to. That’s what unions do - respond to the concerns of their members. My bet would be September-ish when the McCormac review reports or when the pensions proposals are fully fleshed out by the UK Government.

Dominie.