Islington Tribune - News: Striking schools are closed as head defends decision to open

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Islington Tribune - by TOM FOOT
Published: 25 April 2008

Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School teachers join the march through London

Striking schools are closed as head defends decision to open

Teachers join industrial action over pay as lessons are cancelled for the day

EIGHT secondary schools in Islington closed yesterday (Thursday) as hundreds of teachers went on strike.
But it was business as usual at Holloway School which opened despite the threat of strike action from half of its teaching staff.
Ken Muller, representing 1,200 Islington National Union of Teachers (NUT) members, said: “We are very pleased overall because there has been considerable turnout. It has been very solid.”
The strike – the first nationwide action in 21 years – followed a ballot of 200,000 members of NUT over a 2.45 per cent pay offer.
Thirty-eight schools out of 44 secondary, primary and secondary schools in Islington were either closed or severely affected.
The decision to keep Holloway School open on the day was criticised by union chiefs who set up a picket line outside the school gates.
They had urged headteacher Bob Hamyln on Wednesday to shut the school, fearing “utter chaos” if too few teachers were available to take lessons.
But Mr Hamlyn said: “I fully respect the decision of the teachers to strike over this important matter.
“Many staff are asserting their legitimate right to strike. In the meantime, I also have a duty of care to the students.
“I carried out a very full and careful risk assessment and was satisfied that it would be safe and reasonable to open the school to students. I’m very pleased with the turn out of both staff and students today.”
Holloway School teacher Alasdair Smith handed out leaflets to pupils and confronted three NUT members attempting to cross the picket line.
School insiders later revealed some “scabs” – NUT members breaking the strike – had entered the school “through a back door”.
Mr Smith said: “This has been a very stressful experience for us all. I have never in my life stood on a picket when the school is open and the kids are coming in to school.
“It is totally unprecedented action and I cannot understand why the headteacher has refused to close the school.”
College lecturers at City and Islington and Westminster Kingsway colleges joined the strike staging pickets outside its campuses.
They are also calling for pay increases in line with inflation.
Andy Strouthous, representing City branch of the University College Union, said: “The support for the strike here is overwhelming, and demonstrates that members are angry at being offered yet another pay rise below the rate of inflation.”
The strikers later rallied in Lincoln’s Inn Fields before a march through central London.
Police estimated more than 6,000 joined the London-wide protest.

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