News / Gordano School
Teachers set to strike over ‘unacceptable workload’
Teachers at a school in Portishead have ‘overwhelmingly’ voted for strike action, which is set to begin next week.
Teacher members of the National Education Union (NEU) based at Gordano School in Somerset have informed their employer of six dates of strikes, the first being in early February.
Negotiations took place between the union and the school while the strike ballot was held on Thursday, January 20. However, agreement between the parties could not be reached.
The industrial action is planned over a row concerning increased working hours.
NEU senior regional officer Ian McCan said: “The reason our members at the school have voted “yes” for strike action is because of their unacceptable workload.
“It has increased over the recent months and years and has now come to such a level that it is having a detrimental effect on our members welfare.”
He explained that members have “simply had enough and want sustained change”.
Gordano School is a part of the Lighthouse Schools Partnership, responsible for 21 schools across North Somerset, North East Somerset and Bath.
Gordano School is part of the Lighthouse Schools Partnership, including Backwell School and Chew Valley School – Gordano School
Gary Lewis, chief executive of the trust called the decision to pursue strike action at Gordano School “a matter of enormous regret”.
He stated: “There are no demands or expectations of staff at the school that go beyond the hours and terms of their contracts and the school has taken considerable steps to offer greater flexibility and address the pressure points that the NEU has identified.
“Talks continued throughout the period when the strike ballot was held and we now have agreement with the union on almost all areas.
“Unfortunately, the NEU were unwilling to put these points of agreement back to their members before the ballot closed and we continue to urge them to do so.”
Lewis said that there was one point of disagreement during talks: a demand from the union for an early finish on days that have parents evening.
He said: “In the light of all the disruption that pupils and families have faced in recent times it is unreasonable and unjustifiable to seek a reduction in lesson time for pupils and to attempt to close a school with a strike.”
The first of six days of action will be February 3.
Main photo courtesy of Gordano School
Read more: Bristol University staff and students stand in solidarity as strike begins
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