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NUT: Nottingham strike over five term year

NUT: Nottingham strike over five term year

NUT members in all maintained Nottingham City schools will take strike action on Thursday 29th March 2012 against Nottingham City Council’s proposal to implement a five term year from 2013.

The Labour-controlled Council claims that the consultation process is on-going although the decision to move to the five term year has already been made.

The Council has also already issued a Section 188 notice covering every employee in maintained schools, which could lead to their dismissal if they do not accept the changes to their employment contract.

Hours spent in the classroom are already longer than in many European countries and our school holidays much shorter.

Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union, said:

“NUT members are angry that the consultation process in relation to the significant change to their contract and working conditions has been carried out after the decision has already been made, and under the threat of dismissal if they do not agree to the changes.

“No other council in the country has adopted the five term year pattern. Nottinghamshire County Council have recently rejected any move to a five term year.

“Having different holiday times will impact on the ability of families to meet up with friends and relatives in other parts of the country. Private schools have never been concerned about long summer holidays. What does need to be reformed is out-of-school youth provision which has suffered dreadfully in recent years.”

                                                            END pr37-2012
Ian Stevenson, NUT Regional Secretary 07815 795 885 or Caroline Cowie at the NUT Press Office on 0207 380 4706 or 07879480061

Editor’s Note:
Ian Stevenson will be at Haydn Primary School, Haydn Road, Sherwood, Nottingham NG5 2JU from early in the morning, where he is available for interviews.

From 8am there will also be a picket line at Heathfield Primary School, Scotland Road, Basford, Nottingham NG5 1JU

Rallies will also take place in the Old Market Square, South Parade, Nottingham at 12pm and 4:30pm. NUT Deputy General Secretary Kevin Courtney will be speaking at the lunchtime rally.