Executive Report: February 2011

The full Executive met on February 24th.

Christine Blower reported on a number of issues and campaigns, including:

TUC March for the Alternative

Christine praised the organising being undertaken for the TUC’s March for the Alternative on March 26th- referred members to the various resources from the TUC and others such as False Economy about the cuts, and the genuine alternatives that are affordable, practical and would protect education.

She recognised that local NUT divisions and associations doing a lot of work to get members along: and was especially pleased that this is being promoted at our Pensions Roadshows. Many divisions and associations are putting money up for the coaches and trains to the March. She cited the North West model, where members are being encouraged to donate £2 towards these costs- both those who are coming and those that can’t as a solidarity gesture. The public are becoming more and more aware, and support for the march will be from way beyond just trade union members.

The union’s Strategy and Finance Committee has discussed materials for the march. It will be difficult to get one assembly point for NUT members given scale of the march- however there will be large NUT balloons to help find us. The TUC will seek to arrange some organisation for unions and groups to march together.

There are a number of rumours and myths floating around about the March. There is a myth about a "ban on placards"- this is not true. The TUC is encouraging flags, and NUT will be producing large number of flags that we hope members will keep and reuse. Placards are less green and the TUC will be billed for the cleanup !

The myth about coaches being diverted to Croydon, etc- there are various arrangements- 500 coaches, will obviously create parking issues. Call for stewards for the march- need 2,000 people to steward. Myths about” bouncers” has come from the fact that the TUC may be paying staff – who will be unionised- to meet the stewarding requirements set by the police. They will be workers, not agents of the subversive state !

At Hyde Park, there will be 10 speakers from the Trade Union movement. Brendan Barber and the TUC President will speak, to be followed by the General Secretaries of the eight largest trade unions.

International Solidarity

Christine was in the Middle East last week- stressing that important we send support and solidarity with our sister unions and the organisations we work with for peace. We have also contacted the revlevant embassies (there is no Education International affiliate in Libya at the moment) We have sent messages of support to our sister trade union in New Zealand, following the earthquake there. Also we have sent solidarity with the American National Education Association colleagues in Wisconsin, who are facing a massive attack on their trade union rights. There are also onslaughts against trade union rights in other states such as Indianna and Oklahoma. We know from ultra-right wing governments in places such as Colombia that sometimes the most dangerous thing to be is a teacher trade unionist- it is important that we always show solidarity with our brother and sister teacher unionists across the globe.

Reading for Pleasure

The Reading for Pleasure conference was a huge success- really good CPD, really good sharing of practise- demonstrated that the NUT is serious about education and professionalism. There have been calls to replicate the event in other parts of the country.

Subsequently Christine and others went to meet officials from DfE to raise our concerns about the proposed phonics test. To explain the alternative, they took the Reading for Pleasure conference booklet which was received positively- and were told that “the government would like to work with you on it” Christine felt that if anything will throw a bucket of cold water over the campaign it would be that ! We will, however, ensure we make the resources available to replicate the event. Christine commended those who tabled the motion at the 2010 annual conference, and we have followed it through splendidly. Over 7,000 downloads from the website so far.

Christine met this week with Oliver Letwin- the Government are saying they want to engage with Trade Unions, and it important that we engage when there are opportunities, recognising that there will be a time when we can find no agreement and will need to walk away- need to take opportunities to influence and persuade where we can.

Christine praised LGBT History Month: the President Gill Goodswen had been to the launch in Salford, and we have been sponsoring the Sheffield Eagles’ anti-homophobia shirt. Christine noted that there has been very strong support from the rugby community.

Education International's World Women ‘s conference in Thailand, had been very positive.

Holocaust Memorial Day- especially the NUT sponsored resource Martin and Erica’s journey and Paul’s Journey which can be accessed via the NUT Website.

PENSIONS CAMPAIGN

Deputy General Secretary, Kevin Courtney reported on a meeting with Danny Alexander and other government ministers with other public sector unions to seek to set out the terms of any future negotiations and discussions on the pensions issue. Teachers were represented by us and NASUWT, the Civil Service by PCS and FDA (in subsequent talks the FDA will rotate with Prospect and the Prison Officers) Health is represented by Unison and one of the health craft unions- in this case the Society of Radiogrpahers plus Unite and GMB.

Discussions are ongoing, but it seems that there was very little progress made on the key issues that concern us: the Government’s determination to secure an extra £2.6bn in contributions, the proposal to increase contribution rates by 3% and the imposed change in inflation calculation from RPI to CPI. Government are keen to concentrate on the issue of pensions for the lower paid.

We maintain that the existing contribution rates are fair, and that, as a result of the negotiated changes that were agred for 2006, we already have a scheme that is affordable and fair.

Kevin continues to lead these negotiations, and liaison with other unions- in particular the excellent materials being promoted by all of the recognised teaching unions. It is important that we keep campaigning and doing everything we can to make our members aware of the implications of these attacks on their pensions.

(O+M) Training Programme

There was a report on the national training programme at Stoke Rochford Hall. Most of the courses for the spring term are now full, although at the time of writing there were still places available on the Second Level School Representative course- for school reps who have already attended the "basic" school rep training, but want to refresh or develop their skills and knowledge.

The Love Music Hate Racism training has been postponed, due to a clash with the March for Jobs.

You can read about and book for forthcoming NUT Training at the national website, by clicking here.

(O+M) NUT and Musicians' Union launch partnership

It was reported to the committee that a formal partnership agreement was publicly launched on 14th February, between the NUT and the Musicians' Union.

MU members with QTS will be able to access joint membership of the NUT on payment of the local fee only, and there will be a reciprocal agreement for NUT members involved in music teaching.

Both unions aim to work together both nationally and locally to oppose the cuts to music services. No one can doubt the benefit of music education in our schools. Both the Secretary of State for Education and Darren Henley’s recent review into ‘Music Education in England’ speak in glowing terms of its importance and the place it should have in our schools.

The words however do not match up to the reality. Many music services have already been hit by cuts to Local Authority budgets. Freezing music funding for the next year does not ‘protect’ music services as the Government claims. With inflation running at near 5% this is a real terms cut which will be compounded by the possibility of Local Authorities losing up to 10% of their music budgets as the Government moves towards a national funding formula.

You can read the full text of the agreement here.