More than half of Islington's schools are closed in nationwide stoppage over pensions

Published: 1st July, 2011
by ANDREW JOHNSON

TEACHERS at an Islington academy joined hundreds of colleagues in the borough – and thousands throughout the country – in yesterday’s landmark public sector strike after winning a battle of wills with their headteacher.

More than half of Islington’s 58 schools – 35 – were closed because of the action, with the other 23 being partially or fully open.

Union officials had expressed concern that teachers at St Mary Magdalene School, in Liverpool Road, Holloway, were being intimidated into not joining the strike after they received warnings that they could be sacked if they took part.

About 30 teachers walked out, however, although the school did open.

Headteacher Paul Hollingum had maintained that, as they worked in an academy, his staff had to hold a separate ballot and also that he had not received official notification from the union of any intention to strike.

In a memo sent to staff, he said: “There has been no contact between any professional association and the academy, either me or the chair [of governors].”

And he warned: “In the event that balloting and notification requirements are not met but the same union continues to endorse strike action, the employer may be able to dismiss all those employees who are members of that union and who go ahead and strike. The employer cannot, however, select only some such employees for dismissal.”

Union officials maintained, however, that the national ballot did apply as it was a pensions issue, and also that four letters had been sent to the headteacher to notify him of the intended strike action.

Mr Hollingum backed down after 30 teachers held an impromptu meeting in a nearby pub and the National Union of Teachers submitted a Freedom of Information request to the school asking for all correspondence from the NUT on the proposed strike action.

Ken Muller, assistant branch secretary of the NUT in Islington, said the union had complied with all legislation and was glad the issue was resolved.

“We are pleased that the chair of governors has now acknowledged that all legal requirements have been met, and so withdrawn all threats to staff wishing to go on strike. 

“We anticipate a lot of them will join the strike, and the march in central London. We don’t expect the staff to suffer any consequences of taking their lawful action. This issue has united the staff behind the pension campaign. We now wish to establish cordial relations with Mr Hollingum.”

Ninety-seven per cent of teachers in Islington voted to join the strike. They are angry at a change to pension conditions which they say will see them pay more and work longer for less money.

Islington teachers picketed City and Islington Sixth-Form College, in Owen’s Row, near Angel, before joining the national march.

One teacher, Katia Mohandi, of Mount Carmel School in Archway, said the issue was much wider than just pensions. 

“I opened my pension statement the other day and I won’t be able to retire until I’m 68,” she said. “A lot of the best teachers work in state schools because they believe working-class students are able to achieve. 

“But it’s very stressful in a classroom and to work until you’re 68 just isn’t on. I worry that a lot of teachers will move away from state education.”

Mr Hollingum declin­ed to comment.