Schools could be set to close again as teachers consider strike action over concerns around Covid-19 health and safety measures.
The ASTI last night revealed it would be balloting on PPE, social distancing and testing and tracing times.
A spokeswoman for the secondary teachers’ union, which has 17,500 members, said: “It could be industrial action up to and including all-out strike.”
The ASTI’s central executive committee met yesterday and decided
to put the core issues to a vote of members.
The meeting heard that members have serious concerns about the health and safety of school communities.
Issues raised include physical distancing in schools, masks, the definition of close contacts, provisions for high risk teachers and IT resources for remote learning.
ASTI president Ann Piggott said: “The safety of students and their teachers must be the priority.”
She said teachers are reporting that new work practices are being implemented without any consultation with school staff.
Ms Piggott added: “It is unthinkable that at a time when teachers have demonstrated tremendous commitment to their students and to keeping education going, that schools would introduce work changes which have a further negative impact on teachers’ working lives.
“This smacks of crisis opportunism and cannot go unchallenged.”
The ASTI ballot will also cover the difficulties faced by returning teachers who are being forced to work precarious contacts and those enduring unequal pay.
