The Snuipp-FSU, the first primary union, announced on Tuesday that 75% of primary school teachers would be on strike and that half of the schools would be closed on Thursday, as part of a national mobilization against the health protocol against Covid- 19 which was implemented in schools, before being lightened last week by the government.
The union denounces "deteriorating working conditions" and "the permanent lies of the Minister of Education", Jean-Michel Blanquer, who had launched Tuesday morning that we were not doing "a strike against a virus".
"This historic mobilization by its magnitude over the last twenty years
is not a strike against the virus
but illustrates the growing fed-up in schools," replied the union in a press release.
An “unmanageable health protocol”.
In another statement entitled "My school will crack", the Snuipp-FSU union, on Friday called a national strike for January 13 in primary schools. He calls for "a secure school under Omicron" and offers other unions to join the movement. It was quickly joined by the SE-Unsa for schools but also colleges and high schools. The teachers had until Monday, January 10 to declare themselves strikers.
“The Minister of Education continues to make the choice to keep schools open
whatever the cost.
It alleviates protective measures, in particular on class closures and student isolation, totally disrupting the school, putting staff, students and their families in danger and teachers in professional suffering ”, protested the text, also pointing to “risky bets for health” and an “unmanageable health protocol”.
Read also Covid-19 at school: mixed reactions from parents and teachers after the simplification of the health protocol
While the so-called "three tests" course for returning students to class is no longer necessary when a new positive case appears in their class within a period of less than seven days, the Snuipp-FSU asks to review the health protocol at school.
It is necessary according to him to return "to the protective rule
a positive case = a closure of the class",
as well as to "the isolation of the cases of intrafamilial contacts and a policy of systematic weekly preventive saliva tests".
FFP2 masks and CO2 sensors, claim the teachers
The staff "must be equipped from now with surgical masks, and FFP2 for those who wish it, self-tests must be provided to them and the classrooms and catering rooms equipped with CO2 sensors", he also argues.
A point to which the Minister of Education is not opposed, but which must still await the opinion of the High Council of Public Health which has not come out in favor of the generalization of FFP2 masks.
On CO2 sensors, Jean-Michel Blanquer recognizes "flaws", while recalling that the endowments do not fall under ministerial prerogatives.
A rant that seems far from the mea culpa expected by teachers.
While there is "a lot of fatigue and nervousness" among teachers, "I appeal to cold blood," he added.