Hampshire school strikes: Crofton Hammond Junior staff in Stubbington have suspended industrial action after resolution with local authority

Crofton Hammond Junior School was due to be affected by a strike on Thursday, March 30 following a vote from NEU members.

The proposed industrial action was over allegations of unacceptable management practices, excessive workload, unagreed working practices, and bullying and victimisation of the union rep.

The union said issues had been ongoing since the end of last year and it organised a public meeting nearby the school in December, which was attended by about 50 parents, teachers and members of the local community.

The ballot, which closed on Friday, March 3, returned a yes vote of 75 per cent on a turnout of 92 per cent and the union served notice of strike action to take place on March 30, April 19 and 20 and May 2 to May 4.

The NEU has now announced that the strike has been called off because it has resolved some of the issues relating to the dispute with Hampshire County Council.

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NEU joint Hampshire branch secretary Sue Kent said: ‘I am really proud of the members at Crofton Hammond who have battled to have the unsafe toxic working environment brought into the light.

‘Members are pleased that we are engaging positively with Hampshire County Council to find and agree solutions to the issues they have raised.’

The union said that the suspended strike allows the remainder of the issues to be discussed and resolved, and that there is ongoing communication to solve the dispute completely.

An NEU member working in the school said: ‘We are really pleased that positive steps are being made to address many of the issues that we, members from within the school, have brought to the attention of the local authority. As more regular dialogue is now taking place, we are hopeful that we can continue to work collaboratively for the benefit of our school and its community. We are therefore also relieved to be able to suspend the action that had been planned for March 30.’

A school spokesperson said: ‘We are pleased to share that the NEU, local authority and the school have met and have been able to resolve some of the matters causing concern to enable the action on March 30 to be postponed. Dialogue is continuing with a view to resolving outstanding matters and we will continue to keep parents regularly informed.’

Hampshire County Council also said that they are please that they have made positive progress with the school and the union.

A spokesperson said: ‘We will continue to work with the school and the NEU, and to provide ongoing support.’