Next week's teacher strikes "under consideration" after storm disruption

Wednesday 08 November 2023

A teaching union whose members were due to strike next week are considering whether the industrial action should still go ahead after the disruption caused by Storm Ciarán.

The storm saw the island battered by violent gusts of around 100mph, and led to the closure of all schools on at the end of last week, while three schools had to remain shut on Monday and Tuesday.

National Education Union (NEU) representatives had a meeting with the Government on Monday regarding the status of their industrial action scheduled for the 14, 15 and 16 November over the continuing pay dispute.

After the storm caused significant disruption to students, the NEU stated that they were still considering whether the planned strikes would take place next week and would provide an update in due course.

The decision to hold strike days in the autumn was taken after the union said "talks with the Government broke down” and “no progress” had been made in the ongoing pay dispute with the States Employment Board and schools closed as protests were held in the Royal Court. 

NEU members were initially joined in strike action by members of the other major education union, NASUWT, and headteachers' union NAHT.

However, NASUWT have now accepted a backdated 7.9% award while continuing working to rule and negotiating a review of teachers’ terms and conditions and a multi-year pay deal, and NAHT later settled.

Pictured: Strikes previously took place in July and October.

All Government schools and colleges closed on Thursday last week due to the "significant risks" posed by Storm Ciarán and  remained closed on Friday to allow officials to "assess damage and reopen roads”.

The majority of schools opened as normal on Monday, although Hautlieu School, Samares School and Victoria College – which suffered "extensive damage" – remained closed.

While Victoria College opened on Tuesday, education officials said yesterday that Samares and Hautlieu Schools were likely to remain closed for the rest of the week.

Despite disruptions, Hautlieu students have been continuing their learning through live Teams classes, assigned tasks, coursework, and revision, and some took exams at Highlands College. 

As for Samarès School, teaching has been carried out in locations near the school, with home learning provided alongside face-to-face learning.

The Children's Minister, Deputy Inna Gardiner, visited the schools that were damaged yesterday and praised the “swift measures” put in place to ensure children and young people continue learning while essential repairs are carried out. 

She said: “I found my tours of both Samarès School and Hautlieu insightful and reassuring. Everyone has worked together – not just across Government but across the community in Jersey – to ensure that schools were swiftly checked and that the majority were opened on Monday morning.”