Staff at Llantwit Major High say they are striking again over conditions at the school and issues with behaviour
Teachers on strike on the picket line at Llantwit Major High on March 26 – they are walking out again on Thursday April 23 and April 28 in what is a key exam period.(Image: Nasuwt)
A Welsh high school will be shut to some pupils during a key exam period as teachers walk out again in a long running row over behaviour and management. Vale of Glamorgan Council said Llantwit Major High won’t be open to all 900+ pupils as a result of the strike by members of the Nasuwt and the National education Union taking place on Thursday, April 23,
The Nasuwt has a mandate for a further seven days of strike action between now and the start of next term, including next Tuesday April 28, if talks to resolve matters continue to fail.
The Nasuwt and the school have both met separately with arbitrator Acas. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here.
Despite more than a year of union negotiations the Nasuwt said its members at Llantwit Major High have seen worsening concerns over workload, pupil behaviour, and their own health, safety and welfare.
An Nasuwt spokesperson said: “The strike is based on concerns around the teachers’ excessive workloads and poor wellbeing, and though we have engaged in talks with the school, we have been unable to make necessary progress.”
Neil Butler, Nasuwt national official for Wales said it was “a very difficult and stressful situation for all involved”. He claimed that the school and council have not explained to parents the reasons for the strike.
“The employer has the Nasuwt Dispute Resolution Requirements and this has been confirmed by Acas,” he said.
In a joint statement the Vale of Glamorgan Council and the school said: “Llantwit Major School will be closed to certain year groups on Thursday, April 23 and Tuesday, April 28 as some staff take industrial action, coordinated by the Nasuwt and NEU.
“This comes after extensive negotiations between the school’s leadership team, board of governors, Vale of Glamorgan Council and trade union representatives to try and avoid this situation.
“Previously, discussions have been successful, with strike action prevented last year after nearly all points relating to the dispute were resolved.
“We have asked Acas to support us as we continue to work towards a satisfactory outcome to this situation for all concerned. Both parties have met with Acas separately and we look forward to making progress with these discussions soon.
“Nasuwt has announced a further seven strike dates between now and September and the leadership team at the school will continue to support pupils throughout. We remain hopeful that the Acas process will help us resolve this situation as swiftly as possible in the best interests of all concerned.”
Separately, teachers are being offered voluntary redundancy. A redundancy consultation period has been launched, the council confirmed. The school’s headteacher, Charlotte Robins, has previously warned that if not enough come forward compulsory job losses may follow.
“This consultation period has not yet closed, and it has been made clear to staff that the process will be managed on a voluntary basis,” the council spokesman said.
The Nasuwt is also in dispute with the employer over the way redundancy meetings are being held, claiming its representative has been excluded from consultations.
Matt Wrack, general secretary of the Nasuwt said that on Tuesday April 21 Nasuwt Cymru national executive member Sharron Daly tried to attend a redundancy consultation meeting with Vale of Glamorgan Council regarding forthcoming redundancies at Llantwit Major School.
“She attended in good faith as Nasuwt’s chosen representative, in her role supporting teachers at the school. Unfortunately the Vale of Glamorgan Council prevented her admission to the meeting,” he said.
“Nasuwt Cymru is entitled to choose the representative it sends to meetings with stakeholders. For the Vale of Glamorgan to suggest otherwise is misleading. Their failure to admit Sharron to the redundancy consultation meeting is obstruction of a basic democratic process – a trade union cannot advocate for its members without access to necessary meetings.”
Neil Butler said teachers at the school “remain unclear on who will be made redundant and when, or how many positions at the school will be terminated, causing untold stress and anxiety”.
In response the council said: “A series of consultation meetings have been arranged as part of this process. The Nasuwt have not been prevented from attending these meetings. Concerns have been raised about an individual member of the union which are being addressed separately.”
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