School strike on thursday - need to vent!

OK, I realise I don't know the full story but I just need to vent from my point of view - we get a letter come home today saying we need to make other arrangements for Thursday as certain classes will not have a teacher. So I have to go to work tomorrow, and suck up to my boss (whom I reallllllllly dislike......) just so I can have the following day off. I hate being a working mum sometimes. Vent over. As you were.

That sux! Our school is similar, I am forever complaining to dh about the lack of notice about things. They tell us the week before (normally at the end of the week) about things like teacher only days or days they are closing at lunchtime or something. It drives me insane because I am unable to change my shifts at that late notice so if I'm working them im up that creek without a paddle!

On occasion dds school has opened their after school early at no extra charge if you are unable to pick them up at lunchtime or something. Does your school have anything like that?! Ours doesn't always do it but sometimes they do!

Good luck however you work it! So very frustrating when you suddenly have to organise care of some form!

I guess it bugs me even more cause it's already a pupil free day on Friday and a public holiday on Monday, so how convenient that the stop work day falls right beforehand!!

oops double!

That really sucks! Don't have a school aged child yet but generally people at work have to take time off work for strikes at least 4 times a year. The teachers give late notice and never explain what the strikes are for. I think if parents got more info they would be more understanding.

I totally understand that they feel underpayed (this is what this strike is about) but I don't believe impacting parents and families is the way to solve it. The politicians won't really be directly impacted.

I think the teacher's strike is only the state schools in Victoria. I'm lucky dd1 doesn't start school until next year and she will be going to a catholic school. I was talking to dh about it the other day about what do parents do when this happens. I guess they will all have to take a sick day from work. It's not fair. Ted Bailleu hasn't come through with his promises though and I think that's why this has happened.

Are you sure there's no supervision provided? I know when we have striked (struck??) in the past we have provided supervision for the kids who turn up anyway. No lessons, but activities and sports etc.

I would double check with your school that children in the grades that are striking can't be supervised. I know there are a few teachers at our school who are striking but their students will be split up into different grades for the day. Or is it all the teachers in the school who are striking?

knockonwood wrote:
I totally understand that they feel underpayed (this is what this strike is about) but I don't believe impacting parents and families is the way to solve it. The politicians won't really be directly impacted.

I read this and as a card carrying unionist I felt compelled to respond smile

Now I don't know any details at all about this particular strike action but I doubt that the Teachers Union has voted to in favour of striking unless they felt it was absolutely necessary. There are lots of ways that workers can get their message heard, unfortunately for parents of school aged kids, striking happens to be one of the most effective for teachers.The whole point of it is to cause the most disruption to your employer (ie. the State Gov't) as a show of force and power.

I'm sure that they feel underpayed because they are.

My girls are too young for school yet and I will probably have a different view of teacher strikes when they go but whenever I see news footage of reporters talking to parents and the parents are complaining about the strike and how it meant they had to stay home from work to look after their children I always have a little giggle - 'what, shock horror, you as the parent had to look after your child'. I have yet to hear one parent say 'oh it's just such a shame that dear little annie missed out on a day of learning'.

Shell_09_11 wrote:
knockonwood wrote:I totally understand that they feel underpayed (this is what this strike is about) but I don't believe impacting parents and families is the way to solve it. The politicians won't really be directly impacted.I read this and as a card carrying unionist I felt compelled to respond smileNow I don't know any details at all about this particular strike action but I doubt that the Teachers Union has voted to in favour of striking unless they felt it was absolutely necessary. There are lots of ways that workers can get their message heard, unfortunately for parents of school aged kids, striking happens to be one of the most effective for teachers.The whole point of it is to cause the most disruption to your employer (ie. the State Gov't) as a show of force and power. I'm sure that they feel underpayed because they are.My girls are too young for school yet and I will probably have a different view of teacher strikes when they go but whenever I see news footage of reporters talking to parents and the parents are complaining about the strike and how it meant they had to stay home from work to look after their children I always have a little giggle - 'what, shock horror, you as the parent had to look after your child'. I have yet to hear one parent say 'oh it's just such a shame that dear little annie missed out on a day of learning'.

Obviously you are entitled to your opinion, but I for one would never complain about having to look after my children. It is the lack of notice - as in I got a letter last night and have to return it by today if I need supervision for my child. And I'm sorry but you won't sway my opinion about strikes that don't directly impact the government not being the best way to be heard on their issues.

Some of my sons school are striking tomorrow too (his class is one of them) - we got the note last night, on our note it had a little form to return today to let them know if you had no-one to look after your child/children, so they could arrange something at the school. Maybe you could give the school a ring and see if they could help you out?