Commenting on the news that the Education Secretary is due to
announce a consultation on minimum service levels for school
staff that would limit industrial action, Paul Whiteman, general
secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said:
“It could not be clearer that the government entered into talks
with the profession about minimum services levels in incredibly
bad faith. Having set initial proposals that no union could agree
to, they have collapsed negotiations by briefing the media first
and without ever coming back to the table. They have shown they
cannot be trusted.
“We now have proof that the government have never been serious
about getting the buy-in of the profession – this has always been
a hostile act and an attack on the basic democratic freedoms of
school leaders and teachers that they are determined to force
through.
“Teachers and school leaders are dedicated professionals who care
deeply about the pupils in their care. It has been shown in
recent disputes that school staff remain professional and make
careful decisions around the timing of industrial action, so that
the impact is focused primarily on the government and minimised
for pupils. In reality, the profession already observes its own
voluntary minimum service levels – as we have seen ambulance
drivers, nurses and doctors do too.
"This is a purely ideological fight from the government, aimed at
removing workers’ fundamental rights.”
