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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| Teachers strike over pupil attack | Teachers strike over pupil attack |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| Twenty-five teachers at Movilla High School in Newtownards, County Down, have gone on strike. | Twenty-five teachers at Movilla High School in Newtownards, County Down, have gone on strike. |
| They are protesting at having their pay withdrawn because they refused to teach a pupil who they say assaulted one of them. | They are protesting at having their pay withdrawn because they refused to teach a pupil who they say assaulted one of them. |
| However, the South Eastern Education Board supported the school's governors decision not to expel the child. | However, the South Eastern Education Board supported the school's governors decision not to expel the child. |
| About 540 pupils at the school in Newtownards arrived for class on Monday, but were sent home. | About 540 pupils at the school in Newtownards arrived for class on Monday, but were sent home. |
| 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 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. | 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. | They voted to go on indefinite strike. |
| Talks | Talks |
| They hoped that talks at the Labour Relations Agency might have sorted out the problem over the weekend. | They hoped that talks at the Labour Relations Agency might have sorted out the problem over the weekend. |
| Seamus Searson, Northern Ireland organiser for the NAS/UWT, 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 NAS/UWT, 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." |
| The South Eastern Education and Library Board said it had met with NAS/UWT officials on 30 September. | The South Eastern Education and Library Board said it had met with NAS/UWT officials on 30 September. |
| It said that at this meeting a range of measures, including putting in place a support worker for the pupil, were proposed. | |
| In a statement, the board described the incident at the school as having been "appropriately and proportionately dealt with" by the board of governors. | In a statement, the board described the incident at the school as having been "appropriately and proportionately dealt with" by the board of governors. |
| "The SEELB and the Board of Governors consider the health and safety of pupils and staff to be a very important and serious matter and would not have returned the pupil to the school if such a course of action presented a serious risk," the statement said. | "The SEELB and the Board of Governors consider the health and safety of pupils and staff to be a very important and serious matter and would not have returned the pupil to the school if such a course of action presented a serious risk," the statement said. |
| The board also said it was prepared to meet teachers' representatives at the Labour Relations Agency but claimed NAS/UWT had set out preconditions and the board could not comply with them. | The board also said it was prepared to meet teachers' representatives at the Labour Relations Agency but claimed NAS/UWT had set out preconditions and the board could not comply with them. |