Sammy Wilson: Teaching unions should apologise to teachers

The DUP MP made his comments responding to a call from a NASUWT union official, who said Mr Wilson should apologise to teachers over some of his remarks.

A former teacher himself, Mr Wilson has been scathing in his criticism of what he believes is an over-cautious approach to the reopening of schools following the coronavirus pandemic.

Earlier this month he said: “For any union to try and exploit legalities to stop teachers and pupils returning to schools in mid-August is reckless and gives little consideration to the pupils’ education”.

At the time, Justin McCamphill of the NASUWT branded Mr Wilson’s comments as “absurd,” and later added: “We absolutely support a return to work, we just want to make sure it is safe.”

The war of words has continued and, although he has praised teachers as being “innovative, creative and energetic” to provide positive outcomes through difficult times, in a statement to the News Letter, Mr Wilson said: “Unions should be apologising to teachers for giving the profession a bad name through intransigence and to parents for frustrating them from getting back to work.”

He added: “Over the last number of weeks the minister has spoken to hundreds of teachers who have put forward practical and sensible suggestions aimed at getting children back in the classroom. Indeed supporting teachers, based on the knowledge of their school and their pupils is the approach teaching unions usually tell government to take.

“Now, however, they seem to be demanding the kind of ‘top down’ approach which is normally opposed.”

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