STRIKE action by members of staff at Rainhill High School which was scheduled for this week has been suspended.

Teachers who are members of the NASUWT union had held four days of strikes, with two taking place before the Easter holidays and two further days on Wednesday and Thursday last week. 

However, planned strikes for today and tomorrow have been suspended, a NASUWT representative confirmed to the Star. 

The union says the strike actions were due to "unacceptable management practices by the employer toward teachers taking part in an ongoing national dispute over excessive workload".

They added that management had "failed to attend meetings" to discuss the "intimidation being experienced by staff taking part in action short of strike action at the school".

It is understood talks will resume on Wednesday (tomorrow) with union representatives hopeful of being able to suspend further actions.

Further strikes are scheduled for Wednesday May 3, Thursday 4, Tuesday 9, Wednesday 10, Thursday 11, Tuesday 16, Wednesday 17 and Thursday 18.

Bevanie Robinson, NASUWT's national executive member for Merseyside and Cheshire, said: “The NASUWT remains committed to seeking to resolve the issues under dispute, but will always act to support members who are being subjected to unacceptable practices and intimidation by management.


“We sincerely hope that further strike action can be avoided and would implore the employer to agree to meet with us to discuss our members’ concerns.”

A St Helens Council spokesman said: “The council is not presently investigating allegations of intimidation at Rainhill High.


“The school’s chair of governors has asked all employees and NASUWT to come forward with specific concerns and evidence and has asked the council to investigate anything they receive.


“To date no response has been forthcoming from NASUWT or employees at the school.”


A Rainhill High statement said: “The NASUWT have threatened 14 days of strike action between March 28 and the end of May 2017.


“This is under their national dispute with the government. The school will remain open as the NASUWT only represent a small minority of the teachers at Rainhill High School.


“The school is keen to resolve this and has referred this matter to ACAS and the Trustees are happy to meet with NASUWT and ACAS to resolve these issues.”