TEACHERS at a Powys primary school who have been working under the threat of redundancy have gone on strike today (May 2) amid claims of a "management mess".
Members of NASUWT, the Teachers’ Union, at Llangors Church in Wales Primary School began strike action this morning. Members have mounting concerns over adverse management practices, redundancy and staff wellbeing at the village school, located near Brecon.
For months, teachers at Llangors have worked under threat of redundancy. It is strongly felt that the proposed redundancy is the result of years of mismanagement by the school’s leadership and governors.
Further strike dates are planned on May 9, 14 and 16 and June 6, with more in the pipeline if the dispute is not resolved in the near future.
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Helen Johns, a NASUWT national executive member for the local area, said: “Over the last few months, we have attempted to engage with leaders again and again, only to hit one brick wall after another.
“Nobody wants to be held accountable for the mismanagement mess at Llangors.
“Teachers at Llangors are anxious and frustrated. They deserve fair working conditions that are free of stress.
“Parents at Llangors are equally upset; they, like the teachers, want the best for their children and their local community.
“If school leaders and Powys County Council truly want the same, they must listen to these concerns, halt the redundancy process and allow an independent investigation to be carried out.”
Llangors is a small community primary school that cannot afford to lose any staff, says the union.
Despite NASUWT members requesting meaningful negotiations – alongside an independent investigation into the mismanagement – before the redundancy takes place, the school and local authority have pressed ahead with plans to select staff for redundancy.
If this takes place, Llangors will not only lose valued teachers but year groups will be amalgamated, impacting adversely on standards at the school.
Dr Patrick Roach, general secretary of NASUWT, said: “It is difficult to believe that Powys County Council is taking the concerns of NASUWT members seriously when they refuse to meet for proper negotiations.
“In order to protect the school, its staff and its pupils, the redundancy process at Llangors should be halted immediately until the findings of an independent investigation can be thoroughly considered.”
Neil Butler, national official for Wales, added: “Our members at Llangors remain in distress over the way they have been treated by leaders at the school and Powys County Council.
“The state of the budget is not the fault of the teachers. The fault lies with the leadership and governance of the school. No teacher should be paying the price for such incompetence. It’s just wrong. It is as simple as that.”
Lynette Lovell, PCC’s director of education and children, said previously: “The council fully supports the school’s governing body in their pro-active approach in dealing with these financial pressures and working to realign and set their budgets and believes that the school has acted in a correct and appropriate manner with the council’s support.
“The council has already met with the trade union regarding Llangors Primary School and relevant officers will continue discussions with them on this matter as it progresses through formal processes.”
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