NASUWT:Employers focusing on penalising stranded teachers
A steady stream of advice from local authorities, seemingly focusing on ways to make life difficult for teachers who have been stranded as a result of the disruption of travel arrangements by the volcanic ash cloud, continues to emerge.
The NASUWT the largest teachers’ union now has received information from a number of authorities which includes:
1) Making teachers work the time lost, during holidays or evenings or providing additional tuition for pupils
2) Providing documentary proof to schools from airlines that their flight has been cancelled and that they have been booked on an alternative flight
3) Encouraging the docking salary to supplement the school’s budget if supply cover is too expensive
4) Seeking to circumvent the contractual provisions on cover of those teachers who are in work
5) Docking salary if teachers have not been able to contact the school to advise them of their circumstances
Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT, said:
“Whenever there is an emergency be it severe weather, flu epidemics or international travel chaos some employers and managers of teachers demonstrate that the workforce is at the bottom of their list for consideration and concern.
“No one would argue that a key priority must be to ensure that schools can continue to operate as effectively as possible. However, the advice these authorities are offering is not focused on strategies to support that process. The overwhelming message is about docking salary, circumventing the teacher’s contract and making sure ‘lost’ time is made up.
“Employers are clearly spending hours of time producing lists of ways to ensure that teachers, who have been victims of circumstances beyond their control, are penalised in one way or another.
“It is times like this when teachers have the opportunity to see whether the dedication and commitment they give day in day out and year in year out is valued by their employer. Sadly, the conclusion in all too many cases is that it is not. Many teachers do not have the good employers they deserve.
“If these employers persist with their attempts to penalise teachers then clearly there will be on-going repercussions in schools long after the volcanic ash has settled and normal travel arrangements have been restored.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
The NASUWT has concerns about the advice issued by the following authorities and is making representations for a change of stance in Birmingham, Kirklees, Sandwell and Dudley.
Stuart Gannon
NASUWT Press Office
Tel: 020 7420 9681
Mobile (and out of hours contact): 07966 198894
-01.png){kind=spacer}