Poll: Do you support the strike action to be taken by teachers this week?
The National Union of Teachers today defended its decision to strike next Wednesday, leaving working parents with childcare problems as schools shut.
Christine Hargest, the NUT's divisional secretary for Shropshire, said the one day walkout is a protest over excessive workloads and bureaucracy, performance-related pay and unfair pension increases.
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The NUT has requested that Education Secretary Michael Gove meet with strike leaders and claimed previous industrial action was held back as it was believed Mr Gove would attend talks but he is yet to meet with the union.
NUT General Secretary Christine Blower said: "The NUT and NASUWT met with government officials in October – now over 17 weeks ago. Reassurances were given that Michael Gove would talk about a wide range of matters on implementation of pay and pensions and the direction of travel and implementation on conditions. Subsequently, the Education Secretary has put obstacle after obstacle in the way of talks, showing no serious attempt to resolve – or even to discuss – the matters in dispute.
"We on the other hand have made every effort.
"We cancelled the strike planned for November and postponed action in February. We have indicated we will meet with Michael Gove anywhere, any time to seek to resolve the disputes in the interest of the education service."
The action by the NUT means thousands of pupils will lose a day's education and will force working parents to make other arrangements for their children.
Nigel Newman, communications manager for Telford & Wrekin Council, said: "It is not yet clear what impact this national NUT teaching strike may have on schools in the borough. Decisions on whether a school closes or not are taken individually by each school's head who has a duty to inform both parents and the council as early as possible. We are so far aware that two schools, Hollinswood Primary School & Nursery and Southall School, Dawley will shut due to the strike on Wednesday.
Sarah Leeder?, a parent at Hadley Learning Community secondary school, said: "Last time they went on strike they gave us a week's notice. But I've not heard anything yet."
Shropshire Council will not be putting a list of closures online until the day of the strike.
A spokeswoman for Schools Human Resources at Shropshire Council said: "Schools will advise parents about their operational arrangements including whether they will be open, closed or partially open, to selected year groups or classes. We advise that parents contact schools directly if they have not yet been informed."
In Telford parents are urged to go to www.telford.gov.uk/schoolclosures
