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Teachers strike over pupil attack Teachers strike over pupil attack
(about 3 hours later)
Twenty five teachers at a school in Newtownards, County Down, have gone on strike over a dispute concerning a pupil who assaulted a teacher. Twenty-five teachers at Movilla High School in Newtownards, County Down, have gone on strike.
The staff, who are NASUWT union members, said they had been unfairly penalised for refusing to teach the student at Movilla High School. They are protesting at having their pay withdrawn because they refused to teach a pupil who they say assaulted one of them.
They claim they have been stopped from taking whole classes where the pupil is present and have had their pay docked. However, the South Eastern Education Board said the school's governors voted not to expel the child.
Pupils have been sent home from school for the day. About 540 pupils at the school in Newtownards arrived for class on Monday, but were sent home.
NASUWT members in the school voted to refuse to teach the pupil after the assault, but said they made it clear to management that they intended to teach all other pupils. The 25 teachers, who are members of the NAS/UWT union picketed outside the school and asked the 12 teachers who are in other unions, not to cover their classes.
The union said teachers were angry that, when they stopped teaching the child, it meant their total pay would be stopped as they were refusing to follow the principal's instructions.
They voted to go on indefinite strike.
Talks
They hoped that talks at the Labour Relations Agency might have sorted out the problem over the weekend.
But the board said it would not join negotiations because the union would only talk if teachers' pay was reinstated and other arrangements were made to teach the child.
Seamus Searson, Northern Ireland organiser for the NASUWT, said: "All along we have made it clear that our members want to continue teaching their classes, but this particular pupil needs a new start with specialised support.Seamus Searson, Northern Ireland organiser for the NASUWT, said: "All along we have made it clear that our members want to continue teaching their classes, but this particular pupil needs a new start with specialised support.
"Clearly we cannot tolerate a situation where our members are not paid for the work they are doing, and where, in effect, all the pupils are being punished for the behaviour of one. "Clearly, we cannot tolerate a situation where our members are not paid for the work they are doing, and where, in effect, all the pupils are being punished for the behaviour of one.
"The failure of the South Eastern Education and Library Board to provide proper support for this pupil is having a devastating impact on teachers and students alike.""The failure of the South Eastern Education and Library Board to provide proper support for this pupil is having a devastating impact on teachers and students alike."