Teachers at St Jude’s Catholic Primary School in Worsley Mesnes today being six days’ strike action.

The action has been called as a result of the failure of the employer to engage genuinely to resolve the concerns of teachers about working practices which are undermining teachers’ working conditions and professionalism.

NASUWT general secretary Chris Keates said: “The NASUWT has been more than willing to engage to seek to address the issues of concern. We have made every effort to secure an agreed way forward through genuine negotiation, but there has been no serious attempt by the employer to address the concerns of teachers.

“We deeply regret any disruption which will be caused to pupils and parents. The teachers at St Jude’s are all dedicated and committed members of staff who just want to be able to secure working conditions and practices which support them in their work to do the best for the pupils they teach.

“The NASUWT stands ready to withdraw the strikes if the employer makes a genuine attempt to engage seriously with us to resolve the issues of concern.”

Dave Kitchen, NASUWT National Executive Member for Wigan, said: “The strike action could have been avoided if the employer had worked with us to resolve the issues of concern.

“These issues have been unresolved for a long time and the patience of the teachers has finally run out. We remain willing to find a negotiated solution through genuine engagement.”