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Teachers celebrate victory after strike forces Swansea Council to honour collective agreements

TEACHERS celebrated victory today after strike action forced Swansea Council to agree to honour collective agreements and stop adverse employer practices.

NASUWT Cymru members in the city had been on strike since September 12 after the dispute was sparked when a teacher was dismissed for breaking up a fight. 

He was exonerated through the agreed disciplinary processes, but the council applied pressure to repeat the process, which then sacked him. 

The strike agreement reinstates him and the union has applauded its members for their solidarity action.

NASUWT Wales officer Neil Butler said: “This is a fantastic outcome for secondary teachers in Swansea.

“For months, they have faced mounting stress and uncertainty over their rights at work. 

“The council’s decision to honour existing collective agreements and repair the damage done by breaking one of these will bring feelings of relief, but it should never have come to this.”

General secretary Dr Patrick Roach applauded union members and said: “NASUWT members came together to send the council a simple message — we will not tolerate unsafe or insecure working conditions. 

“Members should be proud that their action has forced Swansea Council to retreat from their proposed breach of collective agreements and teachers’ working contracts.”

A Swansea Council statement said: “We are very pleased that following constructive discussions with the NASUWT it has called off its strike in secondary schools in Swansea.”

Mr Butler said the council had to begin “the essential work of restoring their relationships with teachers” and pledged the union would “monitor the situation closely.”

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