Unfilled vacancies and long term absences


Action ballot

The NUT and the NASUWT have agreed to ballot members of both organisations
on action short of strike action.

The ballot would protect members from unreasonable workload caused by the
failure to provide sufficient teachers to fill vacancies or long-term
absences.

Such unreasonable workload results from:

* the loss of non-contact time for marking, preparation and other tasks;

* the doubling up or splitting of classes;

* requirements to set and mark additional work; and

* unacceptable timetable reorganisation.

The "get out" clauses

Paragraph 58.9.2 of the Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document protects
teachers from being required to cover for absences known two or more working
days in advance and to cover for the first three days only of unforeseen
absences.

The exception clauses in 58.9.3(b) and (c), however, are being used to
justify teachers being required to cover all absences triggered by unfilled
vacancies. It is this misuse of the contract that is addressed by the
protective action of cover to contact.

Protective action