British govt. threatens teachers with pay cuts if they plan strikes

British govt. threatens teachers with pay cuts if they plan strikes



Mon Dec 31, 2012 5:58PM

The
UK coalition government has threatened teachers with pay cuts if they
plan or participate in any industrial action demanding their legitimate
rights, local media reported.


In a letter to the heads of all state schools in England, Education
Secretary Michael Gove demanded that head teachers take “robust”
measures against staff involved in industrial action, British media
reported.


The threat, which the government is using to create a precedent to
be used against all public sector workers, has its roots in the
coalition’s privatization drive that will make public education
something of the past.


The Education Secretary referred to the current work-to-rule by
members of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and the National
Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) over jobs,
pensions and working conditions, publishing legal advice asserting that
those taking action are in breach of their contracts.


“Pay deductions represent a lawful response, and the advice sets out
how deductions can be made in a proportionate and reasonable way,” he
threatened.


Demanding head teachers “support your school(s)” Gove wrote, “I am
convinced that by working together in a coordinated way we can protect
the pupils, parents, teachers and head-teachers who would otherwise
suffer because of this irresponsible industrial action.”


Gove’s claim to be acting in defence of pupils, parents and teachers is a sheer lie, according to the report.


It said that successive governments have been running down and
depriving of funds public education for decades. And now, the coalition
government is preparing to finish the job through a major offensive
against teachers.

Source:-
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2012/12/31/281106/strike/