19/09/2024
STAFF TO STRIKE AT TWO THAMES LEARNING TRUST SCHOOLS IN READING AND SLOUGH ON 19, 24, 25, SEPTEMBER AND 1, 2, 3 OCTOBER
School staff in Reading and Slough are to strike over an unfair medical absence policy across the Thames Learning Trust.
Members of the UK’s largest education union, the National Education Union (NEU) are planning to take strike action at schools across an academy trust in Reading and Slough in a dispute over a medical absence policy that forces staff to take unpaid leave to attend medical appointments.
The strike across two of the Thames Learning Trust’s schools follows staff raising serious concerns over the unfairness of the policy. Since signing a recognition agreement with the NEU and other unions in 2021, all policies should be consulted on. However, since signing the agreement, no regular consultation meetings have taken place with staff unions. The Trust has instead chosen to review its policies only with their solicitors, therefore denying staff the voice that they were promised.
Recent negotiations had resulted in the Trust agreeing to offer paid leave for medical appointments, subject to the headteachers discretion, and up to two days per year to attend appointments for the dependants of staff. Members were not willing to accept these limits on leave to accompany dependants to appointments or the fact that the headteacher would be able to refuse requests to attend any medical appointment. Members have further concerns about the Trust’s requirement that staff provide evidence that they attempt to rearrange appointments for outside of working hours, as it is unrealistic to expect the overburdened NHS to provide this additional evidence. On Friday, the Trust withdrew this offer and has not made a new one. The NEU remains committed to reaching a negotiated settlement.
Strikes will take place on the on 19, 24, 25, September and 1, 2, 3 October at the following schools: Reading Girls’ School (Reading) and Baylis Court School (Slough). Pickets are planned outside the schools between 7am-9.30am on each strike date.
Members voted 100% in favour of strike action on a turnout of 78%.
The NEU will be holding an open online meeting to discuss the dispute with parents and interested members of the community at 7pm on Tuesday 24th September, which can be accessed at:
https://neu-org-uk.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMvdeGvrT4vHtA5vTQVVs-Koj3WBhxWf9Iw
Commenting on the situation, Damien Randall, Branch Secretary of Slough NEU, said, " NEU members at Baylis Court School have no option but to take this industrial action, due to a trust wide policy that may penalise staff for needing to go to attend medical appointments. It’s hard enough getting an appointment, but to be told it needs to be at certain times of day makes it almost impossible. It’s cheaper to let staff see a doctor/dentist when they need to, with out the fear of losing pay, than pay for long term cover for sickness. Supporting staff will always cost less than not supporting staff.”
Press contacts:
Laurence Rose [email protected] or on 07562 601433
Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: Thames Learning Trust NEU Meeting for Parents and Community. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.
