No return until it’s safe! Joint Education Unions urge caution whilst mourning their own member

Contributed

Pamela Mistry

In response to the government’s “five pillars” that needed to be met before relaxing lockdown, the NEU has published its own “FIVE TESTS” which must be met before any increase in the opening of schools:

1.     Much lower numbers of cases

2.     A national plan for social distancing

3.     Testing, testing, testing (regular for staff and children)

4.     Whole school strategy (ie test whole school and isolate when one case occurs)

5.     Protect the vulnerable

The NEU has also presented the government with a 250,000 strong petition against opening on 1^st June if the five tests are not met which has also been supported by parents’ organisations.

NEU, NASUWT, UNISON, NAHT, GMB and UNITE unions have now all issued a joint statement to urge caution on reopening. The NEU has produced a stringent model risk assessment for schools, which we understand is being sent to Brent Council on Monday, and members are being advised on the areas of health and safety law that will protect them.

Meanwhile Brent NEU members have paid tribute to Pamela Mistry, a 50-year old teaching assistant who had, until recently, been employed at The Village School and was an active union member there. She sadly died of coronavirus in April after several weeks in hospital, leaving a much-loved partner, children and grandchildren. NEU members and colleagues, denied the chance to attend a funeral due to lockdown, have posted in an online condolence book, paying tribute to Pamela and her lovely family, and describing her as a beautiful, kind and caring lady. One member describes her as a lovely, kind lady who spoke about her family and partner every day sharing funny anecdotes. Staff have been devastated by the news and have said she will never be forgotten.

Staff and children across our Brent schools have suffered family losses too, with the high number of cases in Brent. Brent Council have been consulting unions on their school strategy during the lockdown. Unions are extremely likely to strongly resist anything other than a cautious, phased approach in line with the five tests advocated by the NEU.