First Meeting of the New Executive Cycle 2014-2016
EXECUTIVE NEWS
Date 23 May 2014 No: 200NoNo. 186 No. 185
FIRST MEETING OF THE NEW EXECUTIVE CYCLE 2014-2016
The President, Max Hyde, welcomed members to the first meeting of the new Executive cycle and introduced the new members; Jacqueline Baker, David Campbell, Phil Clarke, Liam Conway, Roberto De Benedictis, Philipa Harvey (Senior Vice President), Jane Nellist, Beth Purnell and Stefan Simms.
GENERAL SECRETARY’S REPORT
The General Secretary reported that the Union had secured widespread coverage around the coalition row following the plundering of £400m from the basic needs budget to prop up the Free Schools programme. The Union had also received a large degree of media coverage about the collapse of the Prospect Academy chain affecting six schools in the South West of England. Both the GS and the DGS had spoken at May Day events in (respectively) Oxford and Newcastle – with particular praise from Don Winters (ex-Treasurer) for the DGS speech. Executive members were reminded about the excellent work of Show Racism the Red Card, including their school competition for which the GS had pleasure in awarding prizes in Cardiff. SRTRC also run training events and undertake excellent anti-homophobic and anti-racist work. The General Secretary also reminded the Executive about the plans for the People’s Assembly demonstration on 21 June in London which promised to attract a large degree of support. Finally, the jointly-badged material produced with UAF and Hope not Hate for the local and European elections was highlighted.
INTERNATIONAL MATTERS
The Union’s International Solidarity Conference was to be held on 24 June at Hamilton House with an exciting and varied platform of speakers would contribute to the theme of Global Education Reform – Building Solidarity and Resistance.
The GS had been the guest of the OAJ in Helsinki the previous week for an interesting
series of discussions and very enjoyable visits to schools. Sweden already has a system in which the Global Education Reform Movement (GERM) is evident. The UEN in Norway fears it is coming their way. The Executive agreed to send a message of solidarity to Norwegian teachers in the event that they were forced to take strike action to defend their pay and conditions – negotiations were on-going.
WALES AND THE SILK COMMISSION
The General Secretary reported that the Union was urgently considering the Silk Commission’s recommendations that teachers’ pay and conditions be devolved to the Welsh Assembly. David Evans had made mention of the Commission in his valedictory speech as outgoing president of the Wales TUCto which the Executive paid tribute. The General Secretary advised that should pay be devolved, members in Wales could continue to be covered by any national Pensions action.
CAMPAIGN REPORT
The Executive unanimously agreed the following campaign report:
•Annual Conference agreed a Priority Motion which asked for a review of the talks with Government at the Executive cycle on 22 May. This paper contains that report and updates on other aspects of the motion.
•Since Conference there has been only one meeting with the whole union side and DfE. David Laws was in attendance at this meeting. He had clearly been required to come because of pressure from our action and the public dressing down arising from the DGS interview on Sky on 26 March.
•There is ongoing correspondence with the DfE to establish where progress may be made. This correspondence cover the issues previously reported. The demands put to the DfE have been pursued by a united teachers’ side due in large part to the hard work of the Union.
•The next scheduled meeting is 4 June.
•Discussions are ongoing with public sector unions. A further meeting of the coordinating action group has been convened for 3 June at the TUC.
•The Union is aware that Unison, UNITE GMB are currently balloting members for action on pay. These ballots close in the week beginning 23 June. Thus far there is no indication from any other teacher union that they have strike action in contemplation. The date in play for possible action this term is 10 July.
•Other unions with extant ballots will bring reports to the 3 June meeting.
•There is good engagement from members in the Stand up for Education campaigns. Stalls continue to be held on Saturdays, some also promoting the People’s Assembly national demonstration on 21 June.
•Forthcoming Education Question Times include East London this term and Bradford, Hull and Oldham in the Autumn Term.
•Arrangements for the lobby on 10 June are in place. Divisions and associations are encouraged to ensure that members who have agreed to attend the lobby are registered on the Union website.
•In Wales, we are urging lobbyists to raise the Union’s opposition to the Silk Commission’s recommendations for devolution of teachers’ pay and the necessity to improve pay and conditions for teachers across England and Wales.
•To highlight the gains already achieved by the NUT strike action as follows:
Pensions 2011 - Protection of pensions for those 50 years plus; 8 per cent increase in Government’s offer for others – more pension in every year of retirement than lost in strike pay for the average teacher.
Strikes in 2013 - Led to the STRB turning down Michael Gove’s proposals to de-regulate teachers’ conditions and working time arrangements including holiday entitlements.
March 2014 - Forced the publication of the teacher workload diary survey and the attendance of Ministers to talks with the Union.
Recommendations:
1.Bring an update to the Executive meeting on 19 June on the talks with government and attitudes of other unions;
2.Make preparations to give notice for strike action on 10 July if insufficient progress has been made and in the light of discussions with other unions and inform members of this;
3.Continue discussions with other local government/education unions in relation to ongoing campaigning and industrial action;
4.Continue the ASOS with a view to a re-launch in September
5. Consult local officers and members on patterns of further strike action in the autumn term including through surveys of reps and random samples of members to be conducted after 10 July with a view to reporting to the July National Executive meeting;
6.Urge Associations and Divisions to continue member engagement with Stand up for Education stalls, lobbying MPs and Education Question Times; and
7.Ensure that Regional/Wales offices work with Executive members and Divisions on
a) the information available from the Forward Emphasis work and survey outcomes to seek to increase participation in future campaigning and industrial action;
b) fact-finding on attitudes to further industrial action in the Autumn Term and into 2015;and
c) producing a plan on the above to be reported to the July Executive.
EXECUTIVE ELECTIONS
The Executive made a series of elections to the Union’s committees, working parties and advisory committees, an exercise which takes place bi-annually on the reappointment of the new Executive body. Elections were also made to outside bodies on which the Union is represented.
MARTIN WALSH
The Executive paid warm tribute to Martin Walsh of the Wyre Association who has pledged to assist with as many street stalls as he could manage during his brave fight against cancer.