London, UK (CU)_ Following the government’s recent ‘U’ turn on its decision to reopen primary schools, trade unions representing teachers and other educationalist urged its members to defy the Conservative government’s decision.
The unions maintained that their members have the legal right to refuse to resume work as per health and safety regulations, given the new strain of Covid-19 detected in the UK, during an online meeting carried out yesterday (03rd Jan) attended by about 70,000 people and 400,000 other online participants.
The National Education Union further warned its 460,000 members that the government has effectively lost control of the Covid-19 outbreak given the rising number of infections each day.
The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies also supported the trade unions’ rejection of the government’s calls to re-open schools amid the crisis, adding that infection rates would become impossible to control should the government have its way.
Meanwhile, the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) and the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) has committed themselves to legal action against the government, demanding that schools be kept closed to deter the progress of the disease.
Adding to Labour Leader Keir Starmer’s support of the union actions, Labour MP Siobaihn wrote to Education Secretary Gavin Williamson claiming that over 1.78 million children from Mitcham and Morden do not have access to computers and other resources required for online learning, despite the government’s promises to rectify the issue.
