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NASUWT: Birmingham school forces further strike action

NASUWT: Birmingham school forces further strike action

Members of the NASUWT, the largest teachers' union, are poised to take two further days of strike action (20 and 21 March) at Castle Vale School in Birmingham

Following the day of strike action on 7 March, urgent talks had been convened between the Union, the school management and the local authority.

An acceptable way forward had been identified and the NASUWT had suspended the two days of strike action scheduled for this week, subject to the local authority confirming in writing by Friday, 16 March what had been agreed.

However, following the meeting the headteacher announced he was to begin a formal disciplinary procedure against the Union's school representative on the grounds that he had spoken to the media on the picket line on the day of the strike action. Another NASUWT member was sent home on gardening leave without any satisfactory explanation being given about what he was alleged to have done.

In the light of this clear victimisation of union members involved in lawful industrial action the NASUWT had no choice but to continue with the strike action for Tuesday and Wednesday.

Chris Keates, NASUWT General Secretary, said:

"The NASUWT and its members had done everything possible to avoid further strike action this week.

"We entered constructively into the discussions convened by the local authority and had agreed a way forward which enabled us to suspend the strike action.

"There was absolutely no justification for the school to then seek to take punitive action against our representative and another of our members. Nothing was said by them to the media which wasn't already in the public domain.

"The unwarranted provocative action of the school management, at a time when a positive way forward had been agreed, illustrates graphically why the Union is in dispute at the school.

"I hope that the local authority will now move swiftly to rectify this unacceptable victimisation, enabling the NASUWT to suspend any further strike action."

Anne Brimacombe, NASUWT National Executive Member, said:

"We are disappointed that the management of the school has chosen to victimise members rather than to support the way forward jointly agreed in the meeting with the local authority.

"How can members at the school be confident in attending meetings to seek resolution to the problems when they witness colleagues being treated in this unacceptable way when they make their legitimate concerns known?"

ENDS

Notes to editors

The NASUWT is the largest union with approximately 50 members of staff at Castle Vale School.

NASUWT members will be mounting a picket at the school gates from 7.45am on Tuesday 20 and Wednesday 21 March.

For further comments, interviews and photo opportunities please contact Lena Davies on 07867 392746

The address of Castle Vale Specialist Performing Arts School is Farnborough Road, Castle Vale, Birmingham B35 7NL

Lena Davies
Journalist
Campaigns and Communications Team
NASUWT
0121 457 6250
lena.davies@mail.nasuwt.org.uk