Some 35 NUT members at Haggerston School, East London, face the prospect of disciplinary action (up to dismisssal for gross misconduct) for respecting a picket line mounted by striking members of the T&G/Unite who work for the multinational privateer, Sodexho, in the school's PFI-built canteen. The strikers, most of them black women, are effectively paid well below the minimum wage by Sodexho.

The strike took place on 28 June and the disciplinary investigations against the NUT members and two technical staff whom I believe are in UNISON started last week, albeit in farcical circumstances.

The local NUT association is giving its backing to the teachers, but the union nationally has not intervened as yet other than to send letters and faxes telling its members to work normally during the canteen workers' strike.

For those with the time and energy to write in protest, you may wish to email the head teacher [1]. Please send a copy of your email to NUT at Haggerston School [2].