The NUT and NASUWT have announced further regional strike dates as part of their campaign against government proposals on teachers’ pay.
They are intending to take action in the Eastern, East Midlands, West Midlands and Yorkshire and Humberside regions on 1 October and in the Northern, Greater London, South East and South West regions on 17 October.
UNISON advice to members
We respect the rights of other trade unions to take industrial action.
UNISON members in schools have not been balloted for strike action or action short of strike action and we therefore advise them to continue with their normal duties and responsibilities.
However, UNISON members should not take on any additional responsibilities being given to them directly as a result of the teachers’ industrial action.
School support staff should not be expected to provide cover for or take classes, where this would normally be done by teachers who are taking action.
In particular, higher level teaching assistants or cover supervisors should only be taking classes or providing cover where they are contracted to do so, if it is timetabled or part of their normal duties.
Staff should not be moved from the duties they would normally have carried out in order to cover classes and frustrate the industrial action of colleagues.
Members who are under pressure to cover should contact their UNISON rep, branch or region for further advice and support.
Members are reminded that industrial relations legislation means only those employees who have been involved in a legal ballot are allowed to take industrial action.
NB: The NUT and NASUWT regional structure does not match precisely UNISON structures, so please check the NUT website for details of which local authority areas will be affected on which dates.