Frustrated parents slam NUT strike

Members of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) who work in Hillingdon's 90 plus schools will walk out for a day on Thursday, April 24.

The action, the first of its kind for more than 20 years, is being taken by certain staff members who are rejecting a 2.45 per cent deal and are demanding a 4.2 per cent salary rise to match inflation.

Talks aimed at resolving the dispute are underway but with most schools in the borough currently on Easter holidays there will not be much time to get information to parents if it does go ahead.

Pupils are due to return to class in the week beginning April 21 with the strike set for three days later.

An Ickenham mother who did not want to be named was angered by the news and said: "There are people out there who never get pay rises linked to inflation; the teachers should be happy with what they are being offered.

"As a rule I don't believe teachers should be allowed to go on strike. They are as important as the emergency services and should honour their contracts."

Not all teachers are NUT members and those who belong to other unions have accepted the pay offer and will turn up for work as normal. It is unclear if they will be required to cover classes where the teacher is striking or if pupils will be told to stay home.

Teachers in the UK have not taken part in a walkout since the 1980s when repeated industrial action caused widespread havoc to lessons.

A former teacher involved at the time is John McKenna, of Harfield, who said: "The NUT never sees anything through.

"I remember back to the last strike when Doug McAvoy, the former general secretary of the NUT, reneged on the agreement between all teaching unions to strike together.

"What they are planning is not going to achieve anything but annoying a few people. If they feel really strongly they should have a properly organised strike. "This kind of action is dangerous because they are breaking their contracts and if they are not careful then their jobs could be at risk.

"Teachers get a far more reasonable salary these days than we did in my day. I know the cost of everything is going up but the pay rises are keeping in check far better than they did in the days of Margaret Thatcher."

Chris Spencer, Hillingdon's director of education and children's services said: "It is inevitable that this will lead to some disruption at some schools across the borough, and schools will be working closely with the council to ensure that parents are kept fully informed.

"Any further details will be provided by individual schools with sufficient time for parents to make any necessary care arrangements for children."