'Fighting for our jobs!' Teachers urge council chiefs to rethink compulsory redundancies amid schools shake-up
Last updated 11th Jun 2024
Union leaders are apologising to parents of pupils at Middle Schools in Berwick, Tweedmouth and Wooler for the disruption this morning (Tuesday), as teachers take part in the second of six days of planned strike action.
The walk out comes amid concerns up to 60 jobs could be lost as part of a shake-up of schools in the area.
NASUWT, The Teachers' Union, claims Northumberland County Council is failing to honour a pledge to protect staff from compulsory redundancies.
It wants the local authority to consider either redeployment or voluntary redundancy schemes for those affected.
Further talks are planned today.
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Dr Patrick Roach, NASUWT General Secretary, said: “Imposing compulsory redundancies on teachers would represent a huge loss of expertise, experience and talent for current and future cohorts of pupils in the area.
“We believe the Council owes it to staff and pupils to pursue other options such as redeployment so that as many jobs can be saved as possible.
“We have sought at every stage of this process to work with the Council, but due to a lack of progress our members have been left with no option than to move to strike action.
“The Council must now listen and work with us on a plan to avoid the compulsory loss of these skilled and dedicated teachers from their local community.”
Teachers joined picket lines outside Glendale, Tweedmouth and Berwick Middle Schools this morning before travelling to Morpeth to demonstrate outside Northumberland County Hall, where the council's Cabinet is due to meet.
A further demo is planned in Berwick town centre on Thursday if today's talks fail.
John Hall, NASUWT National Executive Member for Northumberland, said: “Teachers at all three schools have been left in limbo, not knowing what the future holds for them and their careers.
“This reorganisation should be an opportunity to strengthen education provision locally, not undermine it by losing dozens of experienced teachers.”
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