68 is too late!

Tell the Government: Don’t turn back the clock on employee rights

Tell the Government: Don’t turn back the clock on employee rights The coalition government has already made it easier for employers to unfairly sack staff, and harder for workers to take claims for bad treatment to an employment tribunal. Now maternity rights are at risk and health and safety protection under fire. But this is not a head-on big-bang assault. Instead rights are being sliced away bit by bit, as the government try to turn back the clock on decades of hard won protections for UK workers. It’s a stealth attack – and many haven’t noticed. Help send them a message that we can see what they’re trying to do, by joining the TUC's new campaign "Employee Rights Stop Employment Wrongs". Sign the petition and upload your own personal message and your photo to tell the government why rights at work are so important. Take action: Join the campaign now http://www.goingtowork.org.uk | Unsubscribe | Contact Us

Agenda for Ipswich Association Meeting Thurs 14th June

At The Brewery Tap, Ipswich 6.30 for 7pm start.

1. Apologies and minutes of last meeting
2. Secretary’s Report
3. Pension briefing for reps
4. Steve Sinnott appeal
5. TUC Demo October
6. A rep in every school
7. Conference motions 2012
8. Association motion to Executive
9. Correspondence (including recent email info)
10. Officer responsibilities
11. Training
12. Contact details
13. AOB

Pensions Pay and Workload Petition

Dear All
Here's a link to an online petition calling for our executive to really step up the campaign on pensions. The intention is to get as many signatures before the Div secs meeting on Tuesday. If you can sign it and pass it to other members at school, that'd be great.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/specialconferencetest/
Thanks
Margaret

Deaf Awareness Event

A new initiative to encourage more teaching employees to take up Deaf Awareness is now available in Suffolk

Signs4Life have set up an introductory workshop in Deaf Awareness to help staff to communicate and engage with their deaf & hard of hearing colleagues, service users, students and clients in Suffolk. The Deaf Awareness event will be taking place on Wednesday 30^th May 2012 from 9:30am-12:30pm at Ipswich Council for Voluntary Service, 1 Cornhill, Ipswich (IP1 1DD). This local initiative is to help identify barriers that deaf people face and explore their culture and community but also to encourage inclusion of all people with sensory, physical or learning disabilities in Suffolk. Attendance is strictly by booking only (limited places).

For further information please contact Fozia on info@signs4life.org.uk

Master Teacher Standards - press release

Master Teacher Standards - press release

By Web Editor 1

Created 21 Oct 2011 - 2:51pm

21 October 2011.

Commenting on the review of teacher standards, Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union said:

"Much of the content of the new "Master Teacher" standards successfully captures the practices and behaviours of a highly experienced and effective teacher. The standards’ focus on the teaching and learning process in the classroom and their encouragement of the use of professional judgement and expertise are particularly welcome.

"It is unclear, however, how the "Master Teacher" standards will be used in practice. There is no indication of whether they are intended to be a direct replacement for the current post-threshold, Advanced Skills and/or Excellent Teacher standards or if the Government intends something else to take the place of these or wishes to abolish some or all of these pay grades and posts.

"There is also concern about how teachers would be assessed consistently against the standards, as some elements of them are subjective and not easily quantifiable.

"The Government’s concept of the "Master Teacher" seems in many ways to be reminiscent of a "Goodbye Mr Chips"- style figure. Standards which require teachers to establish "a stimulating culture of scholarship" seem to come from a nostalgia for a bygone age rather than reflect the vibrant and diverse classrooms of the 21st century. Equally anachronistic is the title of "Master Teacher". Given that the majority of the profession is female, it would have been more appropriate for the Government to have come up with a less gender-specific designation".

Attachment	Size
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• press releases - England

Ipswich May Day Festival Cancelled

Dear All

As there appears to be no improvement in the weather over the next week or so we have decided to cancel the Festival.  Although the Park was no longer waterlogged this morning the ground was very wet below the surface.

With all the heavy vehicles coming on the Park, along with the  punters, the ground would be churned up and we would face a bill from the Council of £2,000 or more.  We are not in a position to take that on.

We have notified all the stalls, etc and we are hoping the bands and performers on the Community Stage will be able to play in the local pubs instead.  If you are interested check it out on our website or FB page.

Roger

MEMBERS IN PUPIL REFERRAL UNITS

Circular No.: 12-083/E&E Date: 25 April 2012 To: Secretaries of Divisions, Local Associations and Equal Opportunities Officers in England – FOR INFORMATION AND ACTION	NATIONAL UNION OF TEACHERS HEADQUARTERS Hamilton House Mabledon Place London WC1H 9BD Telephone 020 7388 6191 Fax 020 7387 8458 www.teachers.org.uk General Secretary Christine Blower Deputy General Secretary Kevin Courtney

Dear Colleague

MEMBERS IN PUPIL REFERRAL UNITS – NUT POLICY STATEMENT AND INVITATION TO A ROUNDTABLE THIS TERM (26 JUNE 2012)

Following an ad hoc meeting of members employed in PRUs at Annual Conference in Torquay, at which a number of urgent issues were raised, it has been decided to convene a wider roundtable meeting of NUT members employed in PRUs.

The DfE has recently consulted about proposals to convert PRUs to academies.

The NUT submitted a full response. An NUT policy statement entitled NUT Policy Statement on Pupil Referral Units and Government Proposals - March 2012 has been posted on the website and can be found at: http://www.teachers.org.uk/node/15391.

The roundtable will be held at the NUT Headquarters: Mander Hall, Hamilton House, Mabledon Place, WC1H 9BD on Tuesday, 26 June 2012 from 11.00am – 4.00pm.

Divisions and associations are asked to encourage members to attend this event, for which there is no fee. The event will provide teachers with useful updates about government policy in relation to pupil referral units and alternative provision. It is, therefore, anticipated that heads of PRUs may be willing to release teachers for the day and cover the cost of their travel.

An application form and flyer are attached.

Yours sincerely

CHRISTINE BLOWER KEVIN COURTNEY

General Secretary Deputy General Secretary

SAMIDHA GARG

Head of Department (Acting)

Education and Equalities

Att.

JK

NATIONAL UNION OF TEACHERS

Roundtable for NUT Members in PRUs

Tuesday, 26 June 2012

Please reserve a place for me at the Roundtable for NUT members in PRUs. There is no charge to NUT members for attendance but booking is essential.

DELEGATE INFORMATION

Delegate Name: ……………………………………………………….......................

Address: ……………………………………………………………………….

E-mail: ……………………………………………………………………….

NUT Membership Number: ………………………………………………………

Is your PRU: Primary Secondary Medical needs

Other

If other, please give details:

Details of any access requirements:

Details of any special dietary requirements:

Please return this application form to:

Jayshree Kanji

Education and Equalities

Hamilton House

Mabledon Place

London

WC1H 9BD

E-mail: disabledmembers@nut.org.uk

ROUNDTABLE FOR NUT MEMBERS IN PRUs

NUT Hamilton House, Mabledon Place, London, WC1H 9BD

Tuesday, 26 June 2012

11.00am – 4.00pm

The Roundtable will provide an opportunity for teachers in PRUs to:

· discuss issues relating to PRUs arising from the Academies, and free school programme;

· share knowledge about the impact of commissioning and buy back of places in PRUs; and

· receive an update about current government policy about pupil exclusions, alternative provision and pupil behaviour policy.

There is no fee for this event but booking is essential.

PENSIONS UPDATE – SUMMER TERM 2012

Circular No.: 12-084/SS&EE Date: 24 April 2012 To: Secretaries of Divisions and Local Associations; Secretaries of Retired Teachers’ Sections; Members of the Advisory Committee for Retired Teacher Union Members – FOR INFORMATION AND ACTION	NATIONAL UNION OF TEACHERS HEADQUARTERS Hamilton House Mabledon Place London WC1H 9BD Telephone 020 7388 6191 Fax 020 7387 8458 www.teachers.org.uk General Secretary Christine Blower Deputy General Secretary Kevin Courtney

Dear Colleague

PENSIONS UPDATE – SUMMER TERM 2012

Pensions Campaign

Information on the ongoing pensions campaign will continue to be circulated separately to divisions and associations.

Current pensions campaign material, including the NUT’s briefing on the current Government’s Final Proposed Agreement and the NUT Pensions Calculator, can be found at: www.teachers.org.uk/pensions. Other pensions material can be found in the Pensions part of the Advice and Guidance section at: www.teachers.org.uk/taxonomy/term/232.

Teachers’ Pensions

The Teachers’ Pension Scheme website: (www.teacherspensions.co.uk) has recently been revamped. The new site appears more welcoming than its predecessor though the site layout is different and it will take time for colleagues to become familiar with the layout.

The Teachers’ Pension Scheme website includes a calculator that provides an illustration of the pension that members can expect under the Government’s proposals. This calculator does not display the extent of losses due to contribution rises, working longer or the switch to CPI indexation. For these reasons, NUT members should continue to be directed to our calculator at: www.teachers.org.uk/pensionscalc.

/Cont’d…

Circular No. 12-084/SS&EE -2- 24 April 2012

The Union meets quarterly with Teachers’ Pensions and the DfE to discuss the administration of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme. The next meeting is in mid-May. Issues with the website, the contents of Teachers’ Pensions guidance documents or other administrative issues can be fed in by emailing Nick Kirby at: n.kirby@nut.org.uk.

Employee Contribution Increase April 2012

Colleagues will be aware that pension contributions have increased from April 2012. The increase for 2012-13 translates into the following losses in take-home pay per month for teachers on the classroom scales:

Pay Band	England and Wales	Fringe Area	Outer London	Inner London
M1	£8.64	£9.05	£10.05	£16.20
M2	£9.32	£9.73	£16.00	£17.04
M3	£10.07	£15.72	£17.00	£17.93
M4	£16.26	£16.89	£18.05	£18.87
M5	£17.54	£18.17	£26.10	£27.09
M6	£18.93	£26.07	£28.09	£29.11
UPS1	£27.34	£28.17	£30.08	£44.26
UPS2	£28.36	£29.19	£31.19	£46.44
UPS3	£29.40	£30.24	£43.13	£48.00

We estimate that the 2012 contributions increase will raise £25m a month for the Government.

Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) Update

The joint Local Government Association - Trade Union Project Team (consisting of GMB, Unison and Unite) which is negotiating over potential changes to the LGPS from 2014, submitted outline proposals on 13 February to the Government. Due to confidentiality arrangements, the Union has not seen these outline proposals.

Unfortunately, the Government has not responded to date, which has delayed the negotiations timetable. Divisions and associations will be notified when more information is available.

LGPS Contribution Bandings 2012 – England and Wales

The table below sets out the LGPS contribution bands from 1 April 2012. Each year LGPS contribution bands are revised in line with the Pensions (Increase) Act 1971 – as required by the LGPS Regulations. The bands went up with the 5.2 per cent CPI increase in September 2011 rounded down to the nearest £100.

/Cont’d…

Circular No. 12-084/SS&EE -3- 24 April 2012

This is not a change related to the current negotiations on a new scheme from 2014 or a contribution increase.

Band	Whole time equivalent pay bands April 2011 - March 2012	Whole-time equivalent pay bands from April 2012	Employee contribution rate (%)
1	Up to £12,900	Up to £13,500	5.5
2	£12,901 to £15,100	£13,501 to £15,800	5.8
3	£15,101 to £19,400	£15,801 to £20,400	5.9
4	£19,401 to £32,400	£20,401 to £34,000	6.5
5	£32,401 to £43,300	£34,001 to £45,500	6.8
6	£43,301 to £81,100	£45,501 to £85,300	7.2
7	£81,101 or over	£85,301 or over	7.5

Members near the edge of the bands may find that their contribution rate will fall slightly. This is due to the pay freeze meaning that members fall into lower pay bands and is not a cause for celebration.

Yours sincerely

CHRISTINE BLOWER KEVIN COURTNEY

General Secretary Deputy General Secretary

ANDREW MORRIS

Head of Department

Salaries, Superannuation

and Education Economics

Eastern Region Young Teachers’ Weekend 2012

Ipswich May Day Festival, Alexandra Park 12am-6.00pm Sunday 6th May

Cancelled.

Solidarity for unions in Japan as they launch strike to oppose radiation exposure during work.

Dear Friends,

Japan Rail Company exposes train crews 15μSv each shift.

Doro-Mito launches a strike to oppose radiation-exposure during work, outsourcing and casualization.

Donʼt allow nuclear reactors to restart!

Abolish all nuclear plants!

Stand up in workplaces across the country and all over the world!

In Solidarity,

International Labor Solidarity Committee of Doro-Chiba

http://www.doro-chiba.org/english/english2.htm