Members of NASUWT - The Teachers’ Union at Llangors CiW Primary School in Llangorse, Powys will take strike action on Wednesday 10th April over adverse management and employer practices, potential job loss, health and safety, working conditions and redundancy. Eleven days of strike action are planned through April, May and June. Teachers are striking to bring about the changes needed to safeguard the school.
Poor management decisions over the last two and a half years have resulted in an entirely avoidable redundancy situation at Llangors CiW Primary. The subsequent consultation process has been mismanaged, causing stress to teachers, parents and pupils alike. NASUWT seeks an immediate halt to the redundancy process amongst other key changes, already outlined to the LA in writing in March, which are desperately needed to restore sound management and governance at this primary school at the heart of the Llangors community.
In mid-March, NASUWT communicated with the employer to set out requirements for ending the dispute, but there has been no attempt by the employer to start serious negotiations.
NASUWT is particularly concerned that the school and Powys County Council have continued to reference “continuing discussions” in correspondence to parents. Despite our efforts, no such discussions have taken place. These words have been referenced in local media, which has caused further distress to members and served to weaken their trust in both the school’s management and the local authority.
Only this morning, after mounting pressure from key stakeholders in Senedd and Westminster politicians, did the new Powys Director of Education, Richard Jones, attend a meeting with NASUWT. No progress was made at this time and strike action could not be averted. NASUWT will continue to work with the Director of Education in an effort to resolve the dispute.
Dr Patrick Roach, General Secretary of the NASUWT, said:
“The stalemate at Llangors Church in Wales Primary School could have been easily avoided if school management and Powys County Council had chosen to listen to the valid concerns of its dedicated teachers. But there has been no serious engagement with the NASUWT to resolve the issues of concern at the school and no attempt to even start negotiations.
“School management and Powys County Council have a duty of care towards teachers and pupils at Llangors. They must make sure that teachers are safe and empowered to do their jobs.
“Teachers deserve better than being ignored by their employers. NASUWT will continue to support members at Llangors until they have the safe and fair working conditions they are entitled to.”
Neil Butler, NASUWT National Official Wales, said:
“Our members are not going to pay with their jobs for failures in financial management from the school leadership. The members are not taking this action lightly. They are striking not just to protect themselves but their school and their community. They have been failed by school leadership and the local authority.”
Helen Johns, NASUWT National Executive Member, added:
"We should not be needing to take strike action at this school. There was plenty of time for meaningful negotiation but we have been faced by an employer that either does not care or is clueless as to what to do.
"The first thing that they needed to do was to have met with us as we urged them to do and start some meaningful talks. Doing nothing has just escalated the situation. This is something we all want to avoid, so we need action now."
