Further strike dates at Warwick's Aylesford School have been suspended, says union
Further strike dates planned at Aylesford School in Warwick have suspended by the union.
Earlier this week, members of the National Education Union (NEU) said the strike dates of June 9 and 11 would not go ahead following its first day of strike action on June 4.
The union said after negotiations on June 5, the employer agreed to a “resolution action plan, including a plan to reduce workload and recognise the NEU”.
At the time NEU members voted to keep the scheduled strike days of June 16, 18 and 19 until an “outstanding staffing matter is resolved”.
Today (Friday June 12), the union announced the further strike dates have also been suspended “following successful negotiations with the employer”.
Simon O’Hara, assistant branch secretary of Warwickshire NEU, said: “NEU members have kept the school afloat during a period of great turbulence and we hope that the employer has finally realised that without their efforts, the future for Aylesford would not look as bright as it now does.
“There is a great deal to build on at the school, and we expect that any future plans for change will be fully and meaningfully consulted on, including extending the curriculum and plans for restoring sixth form provision for the students and community.
“NEU members took strike action because they believe and care in the school.
“The NEU would urge everyone to get behind Aylesford and help it continue to develop into the school that the whole community wants to be a part of.”
Teachers and support staff who are members of the NEU said they were striking against a “rushed restructure with mass redundancies”.
Talking before the strike, Aylesford School said its restructuring had now resulted in no compulsory redundancies and that it has been forced to make cuts due to “significant financial challenges”. The school said it has not changed it position and had told the union that compulsory redundancies were not on the table before the strike.
A spokesperson from Aylesford School said: “Our position hasn’t changed. We have managed to successfully restructure and improve the school’s financial position with no compulsory redundancies, which is testament to the meaningful restructure consultation process that we undertook.
“We are happy that the NEU recognises this and has suspended their intended strike action so that there will be no further disruption to our students and parents as this has been our priority throughout.”