Teachers from two schools will strike tomorrow (Thursday, December 12) over the poor behaviour of their pupils. They say they do not believe their employers are taking their concerns seriously enough.
Members of teachers union NASUWT from Ysgol Nantgwyn, Rhondda Cynon Taff, and Ysgol Nantgwyn in Pontypool will take strike action over poor pupil behaviour. From 11am, they will gather at the Senedd to protest.
The union’s general secretary Dr Patrick Roach, said: “NASUWT members have simply had enough of enduring a situation where employers are not taking seriously the impact of violent and abusive pupil behaviour on teachers’ health and wellbeing.
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“There is increasing evidence of a behaviour crisis which is resulting in the union being called on to support more protective disputes in schools across Wales. No teacher should have to endure violence and abuse at work, and the NASUWT will always support our members when their employers fail to do so.
Neil Butler, National Official for Wales, said: “Both Nantgwyn and Abersychan are examples of teachers losing patience with the employer as they have failed in their duty of care. They have turned to their union to seek to protect them from verbal and physical abuse in the workplace because their employer is failing to do so. It is also now a wider issue than this. It exists in Wales and beyond and we need the Welsh Government to step up. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here
“We welcome the news of a behaviour summit from the Welsh Government but we need this sooner rather than later and so far we have had no details.
“There is a need to go back to basics in Wales with regards to Learner Behaviour and all stakeholders need to be on board with that. The learner behaviour summit led by the Welsh Government must instil a new and robust ethos of positive behaviour management across education in Wales.”
There will also be strike action on Wednesday (December 11) at Lewis Girls School, Ystrad Mynach, Caerphilly, over plans to close the school and merge with Lewis Pengam School.
The union say the decision over the closure is being made without any consideration to the impact the changes will have on members workload, working conditions and the welfare of members. Members have been given no assurances that they will not lose their jobs.
NASUWT General Secretary Dr Patrick Roach said: “The local authority are attempting to force through the closure of this school. We have yet to be reassured this merger with Lewis Pengam will happen fairly and without significant job losses or changes to teachers working conditions.
“The approach taken so far is not in the interests of the school community and will only serve to escalate the dispute.”