{"id":61466,"date":"2022-02-08T13:53:01","date_gmt":"2022-02-08T13:53:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/?p=61466"},"modified":"2022-02-08T13:53:04","modified_gmt":"2022-02-08T13:53:04","slug":"strikes-to-go-ahead-as-howells-school-teachers-continue-fighting-pensions-cut","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/2022\/02\/08\/strikes-to-go-ahead-as-howells-school-teachers-continue-fighting-pensions-cut\/","title":{"rendered":"Strikes to go ahead as Howell\u2019s School teachers continue fighting pensions cut"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Llandaff school will be part of a UK-wide strike after 93% of union members voted in favour<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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STUDENTS at Howell\u2019s School in Llandaff will be facing teacher strikes as a row over pensions continues<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Strikes were called over a proposal made last year to cut employer contributions to pensions. This would make Howell\u2019s School teachers around \u00a37,000 worse-off per year at retirement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A consultation took place over the last few months to allow teachers and the Girls Day School Trust, which operates the school, to discuss the dispute. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But a Howell\u2019s School teacher, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals, told The Cardiffian<\/em> that this was not enough. They will participate in the upcoming strikes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They said: \u201cI feel very apprehensive about striking as I\u2019m unsure of the parental response to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“But I also feel validated in striking as our Trust, the GDST, have been totally unprepared to properly engage and properly consult.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTheir financial reasons for cutting our pensions are not valid and have been proven so by the union\u2019s examination of public Trust accounts. It shows a complete lack of respect to Howell\u2019s School\u2019s greatest asset, the staff teams.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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It makes me feel worthless<\/strong>.  Shiny logos and posh buildings don\u2019t make a school.”<\/p>TEACHER AT HOWELL’S SCHOOL<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The teacher also claimed that the GDST has continued<\/a> to threaten to “fire and rehire” staff to force them into these proposed changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They added: \u201cThe threat of using the vile practice of ‘fire and rehire’ still looms large over us and is probably the most demotivating aspect of the whole situation.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt makes me feel worthless.\u00a0 Shiny logos and posh buildings don\u2019t make a school, my colleagues and I do.\u00a0 For all their talk of ‘family’ the GDST are really eroding the trust in their institution.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Howell\u2019s School is just one of 23 private girls\u2019 schools in the UK affected by this proposal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Around 1,500 teachers will be striking across the country after 93% of union members voted in favour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If teachers who have children at these schools choose to strike, they will also have to pay the full tuition fee rather than their usual staff discounted rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, Howell\u2019s School is likely to remain open thanks to the help of some non-striking staff, outside agencies and online teaching. Some year groups may also be combined to make up for a lack of teaching staff. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The GDST, which part-funds Howell\u2019s School and 22 other schools, has never faced a staff strike in its 149-year history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2019 the GDST was forced to raise pension employer contributions under the Government\u2019s Teacher Pension Scheme. The Government covered these costs for state schools but not private schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The GDST claims it has been grappling with this extra cost since it was introduced, which prompted them to propose the 3.68% employer contribution cut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cheryl Giovannoni, the CEO of the GDST, is disappointed with the planned strike action and the disruptions it will create for teachers, students and families nationwide. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Next week @NEUnion<\/a> members in @GDST<\/a> are taking strike action for the first time in the 149-year history of the trust.

The choice to remove staff from the teachers' pension scheme will see pensions cut by 20 per cent each year. #HandsOffOurTPS<\/a> #23Together<\/a>https:\/\/t.co\/9GT5Osgk0o<\/a><\/p>— National Education Union (@NEUnion) February 3, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote>