Brent NEU Reps advised that it is unsafe to reopen schools

Press release from Brent National Education Union

 

Shortly after death announced of pupil in special needs school in Waltham Forest, meeting of Brent union reps advises members schools should not reopen

38 union reps and safety reps from schools around Brent met tonight with their regional officials and branch secretaries prior to the proposed wider reopening of schools.

Members were told “The NEU’s Five tests have not been met and therefore it’s not safe yet”. 

Questions were asked about transmission between children. Phil Pardoe, London officer, stated “The evidence is not there yet”. Jenny Cooper, District Secretary, said “The BMA backs us, many parents back us and other unions back us. It’s not that we’re militant for the sake of it; this is a life and death issue”. She then went on to share the news of the death of a pupil in Walthamstow and the sad news that in one street in Brent 28 people died of coronavirus.

8 Brent schools were named which will not be reopening on 1^st June. Reps will be returning to their members in schools, teachers and support staff, to pass on the message that their union advises them not to participate in a wider reopening yet.