By Phil Coleman Chief reporter

Last updated at 12:35, Wednesday, 12 September 2012

Teachers in Cumbria are poised to begin a work to rule as part of a national campaign by their union to combat rising workloads.

Kevin Courtney, deputy general secretary of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) has warned that the action will be followed by strikes if the Government did not deal with teachers’ concerns.

He stressed that the action, from September 26, was not aimed at damaging pupils’ education, but at reducing teachers’ workloads.

Alan Rutter, the Cumbrian sectary for the union, said: “From September 26, teachers in the NUT and the NASUWT will take action over workloads. All we are asking for is that teachers are treated in a way that is consistent with those things which are part of our national contract for pay and conditions.

“What we are finding increasingly is that people are not getting everything they’re supposed to get.”

Mr Rutter said there is evidence that some Cumbrian teachers are being forced to take part in out of school activities and to attend after-school meetings, sometimes two or three times a week.

“That’s on top of their normal duties,” he said. In some schools, teachers were being asked to provide a “ridiculous” level of detailed planning for lessons. All such activities are supposed to be restricted to levels agreed nationally.

Mr Rutter said those schools which do abide by the agreed working conditions would probably not notice any difference in the weeks ahead, but the union was determined to support staff who are being put under pressure to work outside the agreement.

NUT general secretary Christine Blower said: “The NUT is left with no option but to take action to protect the well-being of our members and restore their rights to do their job thoroughly and properly.

“Teachers are being undermined by a Government whose almost daily criticisms and erosion of working conditions and pay, coming on top of previous attacks on pensions, are unacceptable.

“This negative approach to the profession has to stop.”

Schools Minister Nick Gibb said that he was “disappointed” and surprised at the union’s announcement, saying there are already regular opportunities for teachers’ unions to talk to government.

He said strikes would benefit nobody.

“It doesn’t benefit teachers and it certainly doesn’t benefit the children who will miss education,” he added.

PColeman@cngroup.co.uk

First published at 11:25, Tuesday, 11 September 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk