After nine days of strike action taken over the last six weeks, National Union of Teachers (NUT) members at Rawmarsh Community School in Rotherham have won a reprieve in their fight against cuts and redundancies.
Alistair Tice
On 11 February, negotiations between the NUT, the school and the local authority resulted in the employer withdrawing the last remaining teacher redundancy which was to have been implemented this April.
As a result NUT members at the school voted to temporarily suspend any further strike action for the remainder of this school term.
Rawmarsh Community School NUT teachers in Rotherham took nine days of strike action against cuts and redundancies, winning a repreive, photo by Chris Borman
However if the school continues with the redundancies planned for August, NUT members will resume strike action after Easter, at the start of the summer term.
Ian Stevenson regional secretary for the NUT Yorkshire Midland region said: “Significant progress was made today by the NUT in ensuring that no teacher at Rawmarsh Community School is now to be made compulsory redundant in April.
“It remains the case however that a number of teachers’ jobs remain at risk for September. The agreement reached today provides time for the employer to find a way to avoid further job cuts.
“NUT members at the school remain determined to continue the fight against these cuts. I have no doubt that if the school continues with its plans for redundancies in August then members will resume strike action after Easter.”
A benefit gig is being held at the Star Inn, Rawmarsh, on Friday 18 February and the teachers will lead an anti-cuts march in Rotherham on Saturday 5 March.
