Union considers legal action against Cathedral School, Llandaff for its actions during campaign over pay and pensions
CARDIFF teachers are threatening their school with legal action after they say agency staff were brought in to cover for them while they were on strike.
The teachers, from Cathedral School in Llandaff, were picketing as part of National Education Union strikes over pay and the future of their pensions.
Salaries at the £5,308 a term school have increased by 13.62% in the last five years, compared to inflation which rose by 29.9%, said the NEU.
Head of science Dr Claire Rickard, one of the NEU representatives at the school, said: “Agency workers were brought into the school but left when they were alerted that it was a breach and against the law.”
NEU Cymru added: “We are considering legal action and are shocked and disappointed at the school’s actions particularly as the school appears to not have advised the agencies that a strike was taking place.”
The school, which has about 800 pupils aged three to 18, declined to comment on the issue of agency staff.
(Left) Abbie Williams: Primary teacher at Cathedral School, Llandaff. (Right) Dr Claire Rickard: NEU representative and science teacher at Cathedral School Llandaff. Credit: William Rogers
Staff went on strike last Thursday and again on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. No future strike action has been planned as both parties are returning to the negotiating table.
“NEU Cymru are appalled by the actions of the Cathedral School,” said Emma Forrest, NEU’s assistant general secretary.
“This is clearly a hostile move from the school and will make settling the dispute more difficult.”
Speaking to striking teachers on Cardiff Road outside the school’s front gate, deputy headmaster pastoral, Lawrence Moon, said: “The vast majority of teachers within the school are on strike.
“Private schools can’t balance the books so are passing the cost on to teachers. All that we are asking is for our pensions to be protected.”
Year Two teacher Abbie Williams added: “I would like to believe that they didn’t know that (hiring agency staff) is illegal and they shouldn’t be doing it. It shouldn’t be allowed and we should be looking into legal action against them.”
A 2023 High Court judgement confirmed that it remains illegal to hire agency staff during a strike under Regulation Seven of the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations.
The first round of NEU strikes regarding pay started on February 1, 2023. This round started in November following the UK government’s re-evaluation of employer contributions to the pension fund from 23.68% to 28.68%.
The NEU strike on Wednesday, March 13 on Cardiff Road at around 8.30am. Credit: William Rogers
The governors say they want to “keep fees affordable in this challenging economic climate”.
In a statement on March 12 they said: “Contingency plans are in place and the school will remain open for as many pupils as possible on the planned days of industrial action.
“Whilst recognising the concerns of the teaching staff, protecting The Cathedral School for today’s community and future generations is of the utmost importance to the Governors.”
The school’s other NEU representative, Year Six teacher Megan Dickson, said: “It was so disappointing to hear that agency workers were brought in and that the school would flagrantly break the law.”
“The response from parents and children has been generally supportive. They understand we are only asking for fairness. We just want to be paid fairly.”
The NEU is Wales’ largest education union, with almost 500,000 UK members.
Click here for more information on the strikes any future action
