Ipswich NUT

NUT Executive Meeting Recommendations for ongoing pensions campaign

2012-01-27T12:01:00.004Z

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY WHAT WAS AGREED TODAY - Call if you want further explanation as to what might seem to some of you over-cautious - but I am happy to support as broadly the correct approach in the light of the information from members and from other unions - hopefully preparing the way for further action in March

Martin Powell-Davis

Exectutive Member for Inner London

http://electmartin1.blogspot.com/2012/01/pensions-camapign-update-report-from.html

The NUT Executive met again on January 26 and agreed the following recommendations for the ongoing pensions campaign:

1. Christine Blower and Kevin Courtney will continue to work to convene the joint meeting of unions that have not signed up to heads of agreement.
We are not alone! Far from it. Christine and Kevin gave an encouraging report from a meeting convened by the NUT that had brought together a sizeable number of different union leaders to discuss a joint campaign.
The meeting shows that, after the setback of some other unions signing the totally inadequate ‘Heads of Agreement’ deal, a significant group of unions is still standing firm. Unions will meet again next week to look at joint plans in more detail.

2. Christine and Kevin will press the case at the meeting with the other unions for a joint further day of action in March, before the contributions increase, as part of an on-going campaign involving further action, and other activities.
Motions from schools and Associations, including many from London, had been sent in to the Union in support of further action - action that must be taken if we are going to persuade this Government to back-off from making teachers work to 68 and pay 50% more in pensions contributions. The Executive agrees - but, while understanding the urgency in providing a clear plan of action - also recognises that we have to try and reach agreement with other unions before any firm date is ‘named’ as the next suggested strike day.
March 1 had been proposed by the UCU, but I understand that other unions felt that a slightly later date was needed. The NUT will be firmly calling on unions to agree on a definite strike day in March - but not as a one-off action. We also want to discuss the further joint action that will need to follow.

3. A special National Executive will be called for February 9th to consider the results of that joint union meeting.
The Executive will be recalled to make sure that there is no unnecessary delay in preparing for further action.
Hopefully, the joint discussions will have arrived at firm conclusions to put to other Union Executives,as well as ours, so we can follow a common strategy.

4. Any outcome from Feb 9th Executive to go forward with action should be accompanied by home mailings, emails, reps news etc. arguing the case for the action including materials relating to the Government/Ofsted assault on teachers since January and the attacks in the Autumn statement.
Some members have already indicated their support for further action but we want to make sure that every NUT member understands why we cannot accept the ‘Heads of Agreement’ and why we need their support for the proposed plan of action
If we retreat on pensions, then we will give the Government confidence to press ahead with all their other attacks - a continued pay freeze, endless observations, longer hours … plus the threat of fast-track sackings if they decide you don’t meet their imposed standards.
It won’t just be ‘pay more, retire older and get less’, it will be ‘pay more and get a LOT less’, when teachers are forced by the stress and relentless pressure to retire long before they reach their full pensions age.
Alongside the campaign against ‘pensions robbery’, Executive members also discussed how best to fight Gove’s ‘bullies charter’ and its threat to unfairly force teachers through accelerated capability procedures. We hope we can get unions to agree an alternative policy that we can then propose to Local Authorities and Governors - backed up with action if necessary.

5. All affected members will be consulted on and urged to support any proposed action, once it is clear which other unions intend to be involved.
The Executive knows that many of the most active union members understand the issues, know what’s at stake, and are ready for further strike action. However, particularly now some unions have stepped back from the struggle, at least for now, the Executive believes we need to make absolutely sure that the next NUT action has widespread backing across the whole Union. That’s why we agreed to carry out some kind of consultative survey of members to indicate their endorsement of the union’s proposed action.
The exact details of the survey were left for further discussion, but it certainly doesn’t need to be another full ballot sent to home addresses. Our legal ballot for discontinuous action remains in force. This would be solely an internal Union survey to gauge - and to build - support for our plan of strike action.
As I said when I spoke in the debate, of course this kind of survey is not without risk. However, proceeding without this consultation presents an even greater risk - that we might not have correctly prepared the support for action across the whole Union.
So everyone who supports action - from the Executive right down to members in schools - would need to use this survey to get the message out to their colleagues, to union meetings, and to neighbouring schools, that we all need to continue, and extend, the fight to stop this pensions robbery.

6. The Divisional Secretaries meeting on Feb 2nd will be consulted as to readiness for action and encouraged to continue building the campaign, including through school meetings, street stalls and lobbies of MPs. A draft plan of action will be devised for consultation with the meeting. This would include one day of national action in March and a plan of what a possible strategy of further action could look like.
NUT Local Division Secretaries - who are the key officers and local organisers in the union - are being called together for a special meeting next week.
They can then have their say about what our campaign strategy and timetable should be, what the mood for action is in their area, and discuss how we go out to build action. If you have an opinion, make sure to tell your NUT Secretary before they come to next week’s meeting!

7. The union seeks to make common publicity with other teacher unions in particular around age of retirement and increased contributions and by placing a petition on the Government web-site.
As well as using the key weapon of strike action, we need to get our message out to the public about the damage these proposals will cause to both teachers and education - and right across our public services.
Some unions are keen on using a petition as a way to gather publicity - and we are obviously happy to do so.

8. The NUT will press the case for TUC support for action by unions that have not ‘signed up’ at the Public Sector Liaison Group on Feb 6th – and keep working to get other unions back to the campaign.
UNISON, GMB and ATL may have signed-up for now - but we hope our campaign - and the real facts about the ‘Agreement’ - will persuade their members to call for their unions to rejoin the fight for a better deal.
At a recent regional TUC meeting, UNISON officials said they would still be giving support to unions like the NUT who were continuing with action. We are calling for that to be the clear official position of the national TUC.

Resolution passed at Ipswich NUT meeting 24th January

2012-01-25T07:40:00.001Z

This meeting congratulates the NUT Executive, and all members, on the pensions campaign so far, especially for the role the NUT played building the united strikes on June 30^th and November 30^th last year. We further endorse the union leadership on their rejection government’s latest proposals – which still amount to teachers having to “pay more, work longer and get less”.

We endorse the attempts the Union has made to secure the widest possible agreement with other unions, and teaching unions in particular, in rejecting the government’s proposals and continuing to fight to defend pensions. We further endorse plans to open a national ballot on action over workload and other key issues, including performance management.

We support the aim of talking to other unions with a view to securing the widest possible agreement on calling further national strike action as soon as possible to defend our pensions. We believe the Union should be ready to call such strike action alongside other unions willing to do so. We believe that there is a real urgency in taking such action – as the government’s proposals currently mean teachers will face a pay cut in April, when the first wave of increased pensions contributions is due to be imposed.

We, therefore call on the National Executive to:

i) name a day for a national strike at its meeting on 25^th January, and that such action should preferably be before half-term and no later than the end of February;

ii) draw up plans for an escalating programme of action to achieve our pensions objectives, beginning with a further one day strike in March.

NUT Legal Plus

2012-01-21T11:30:00.001Z

NUT Legal Plus

For all work related matters the Union provides a high quality, award winning legal support service for members.

We have joined together with Thompsons Solicitors, the UK’s most experienced personal injury and trade union law firm to cover legal matters outside the work environment including personal injury, will writing and conveyancing.

Members and family member cases are funded by a conditional fee agreement which means that the injured person doesn’t have to pay anything.

Unlike many solicitors, Thompsons is expert at dealing with complex personal injury claims. And, because Thompsons refuses as a point of principle to work for insurance companies, it is never compromised into settling a claim for less than the full value.

Legal Plus also offers low cost wills to members and a fixed price conveyancing service. Wills cost £35.25 for a sole will and £52.88 for a joint will.

To find out more contact Legal Plus on 0800 1696660 or click through to the Thompsons website www.thompsons.law.co.uk.

Ipswich NUT Association Meeting Tuesday 24th January 7.00pm Brewery Tap, Ipswich.

2012-01-19T22:33:00.001Z

Agenda

Apologies
Minutes of previous meeting
Pensions Campaign feedback from Association Schools
Performance Management changes/ Workload,
Prioritisation of Conference Motions.
geographical make- up of the Association,
AOB

Performance Management Press Release

2012-01-15T18:06:00.001Z

EMBARGOED FOR 00:01

13 January 2012

Performance Management

Commenting on the changes planned for September 2012, announced by the Department for Education today, Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union said:

“The changes to the appraisal and capability policies will rightly be seen by teachers as an attack on their professionalism and will anger and depress them in equal measure.

“Best practice in schools is about taking pains to ensure that teachers are supported in developing their professional practice. Teaching is about getting the very best from every learner in every lesson. It isn’t about ‘performing for observers’.

“What the Government proposes is potentially a bully’s charter. The Union believes that many well-functioning schools, where development and professionalism is prized, will not adopt Mr Gove’s model.

“If schools are serious about addressing the issue of teacher competence should it arise, they must do it in a fair fashion and not be constrained by a one term time limit. It is far better to improve teachers than to seek measures to sack them.”

END pr06-2012

For further details contact Caroline Cowie on 0207 380 4706 or 07879480061

Briefing for NUT Reps

2012-01-15T17:36:00.001Z

Ipswich Teachers Association

Briefing for NUT Reps

Subject: Pensions negotiations

Date: January 2012

This briefing is for NUT reps to use in school meetings to provide information to members and help discussion.

On December 19^th the government asked trade unions to sign a Heads of Agreement document.

This document contained a set of principles, which would then be taken out of the negotiations, allowing for more detailed discussion on remaining items.

Signing the Heads of Agreement document means accepting:

A 50% increase in pensions contributions
A retirement age of 68 for teachers
A pension based on a career average salary, rather than a final salary
The switch from RPI to the lower CPI as the index for the annual increase in pensions

For these reasons the NUT has refused to sign up to the Heads of Agreement – amongst the teacher unions the NASUWT and UCU have also refused to sign

Some unions in other schemes have also refused to sign.

Of the teacher unions the ATL, ASCL and NAHT have signed the Agreement.

The government did make some concessions in the Heads of Agreement document:

An improved accrual rate of 1⁄57th of pay per year of service
If you retire early then your pension is cut by 3% each year for the first three years and then the current 5% a year for extra years.
those aged 50 or more on 1st April 2012, will stay in the current scheme and have full protection. Those aged between 46¹⁄2 and 50, will stay in their current scheme longer.

These changes have come about as a result of our campaigning and action, but go nowhere near enough to meet our concerns.

The important thing to note is that the major threats to our pensions - pay more, work longer and get less - are still there. These are the threats against which we took action on June 30^th and again on November 30^th.

Crucially, the government have offered no more money

The NUT and NASUWT have written to Michael Gove seeking urgent talks; they have told the Secretary of State that these proposals fall far short of our expectations and that more money needs to be provided to meet these.

Our case remains the same:

teachers can’t work to 68,
our pensions shouldn’t be taxed to pay for the deficit
our scheme is affordable and already on track to make substantial savings as a result of the changes made just five years ago

The NUT is now talking to other unions who have not signed the Heads of Agreement about taking the campaign forward and about the possibility of taking more strike action.

We have produced a motion for school groups to discuss and let us know their views

Motion for school NUT groups to discuss

We would like school groups to discuss this and report back the views of members to our next meeting on January 24th

In particular we would like an indication of members’ support for further strike action by the NUT.

Motion

This union meeting notes that the Heads of Agreement “offer” made by the government to teaching unions on December 19^th still means that we would have to pay more, work longer and get a smaller pensions.

We note that the government is still intent on:

i) increasing our pension contributions by 50%;

ii) raising the retirement age for teachers to 68;

iii) introducing a pension based on a career average rather than final salary;

iv) using CPI, rather than RPI, as the index for annual increases in our pensions.

These are the measures against which we took strike action on June 30^th and November 30^th and for these reasons we believe the NUT was right not to sign up to the Heads of Agreement.

We note that the NASUWT and UCU have also refused to sign up to the Heads of Agreement.

We note that whatever concessions the government has made have only come as a result of our campaign and strike action, but go nowhere near enough to meet our concerns.

We believe that the campaign to defend our pensions must continue and that this should involve further strike action.

We call upon the NUT National Executive to draw up plans for further strike action and to discuss these with other unions who have also refused to sign the Heads of Agreement.

We therefore agree to indicate our support for:

i) the decision of the NUT to reject the Heads of Agreement document;

ii) further strike action in defence of our pensions.

Please send a copy of the minutes from your meeting to secretary@ipswich.nut.org.uk and include the name of your school and the number of members present at the meeting. Thank you.

Disability Living Allowance to be replaced–protest now

2012-01-09T17:23:00.001Z

The Welfare Reform Bill is currently in the final stages of its way through Parliament, and Peers are debating its Report Stage in the House of Lords this week.

We’re very concerned about many of its implications, especially on disabled people, large numbers of whom face a reduction in benefits as the universal benefit Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is replaced by the more conditional benefit system of Personal Independence Payments (PIP).

DLA is currently available to disabled children and adults to help them meet the extra costs associated with having a disability. It’s not work or contribution dependent, and it comes at different levels, to take into account assessed needs for ongoing help with care and mobility. Under the new system, DLA recipients will have to claim again for PIP, and given that the government have stated they want to make savings by focussing the benefit on those who need it most, it’s a fair bet many who were found to need assistance under the lower levels of DLA payment will no longer be given assistance.

Also, increasing the initial qualifying period from 3 to 6 months will see many people face extra months of hardship before they get assistance. Many current DLA recipients will face a further blow if they’re denied access to PIP, as DLA is a qualifying benefit, which means that being assessed to receive it then means you are eligible for other assistance. Losing DLA will see people getting those other benefits withdrawn.

With such severe cuts for thousands of vulnerable people, you’d think the government would be scrupulous about understanding the impact of the reforms. But the consultation for the Bill has been rushed through, run for two weeks shorter than usual, and with the legislation presented to Parliament before the consultation was even finished.

A group of disabled activists have come together online to research the reforms. They’ve used Freedom of Information powers to get a copy of the consultation results, and conducted a thorough crowdsourced analysis of the previously unreleased documents.

The “Responsible Reform” report that they have written and produced tells a remarkable story, with 74% of organisations and individuals responding to the consultation opposed to the overall plans, with even higher margins against on specific measures, such as 98% opposing the extension of the period people have to wait to receive benefits.

This tells a rather different story to the government’s claims of support from the consultation responses. With only days to go now, Peers need to know what respondents, from charities working with disabled people through to Mayor of London Boris Johnson have said about the danger of these reforms.

What can you do?

You can find the report online here. Please have a look at it (there's a helpful summary at the beginning, as there's a lot of material in there) and help get this important information used as widely as possible, by taking any or all of these actions online:

1 Tell your friends

Please tweet about the report, or spread the message to friends. The hashtag #SpartacusReport has been trending today, so please use that if you can to keep it in the public eye online. If you want to share the text of this email, you can find it online here.

2 Tell the House of Lords

Please help spread word of this important report to Peers. Use the They Work For You site to find a member of the House of Lords to email – If you can only write to one, please focus on the Liberal Democrat or Crossbench Peers, who are more likely to change their vote over this issue. Getting a message to them Thursday’s report stage will help ensure they don’t go into the debate without knowing the concerns of thousands of disabled people from all over the country.

3 Add your name

And please if you’ve not yet signed up, add your name to Pat Onions’ petition to Number 10 for a pause in these hurried reforms – it’s reached over 10,000 signatures now, but needs more to be recognised by government. Rushing this legislation through at a time of spending cuts and economic difficulties for vulnerable people is creating a perfect storm for many disabled people. A pause to ensure reform is carried out more fairly and effectively is desperately needed.

Going To Work is a project of the Trades Union Congress (TUC)
This email was sent to:
secretary@ipswich.nut.org.uk

TEACHER TRAINING:

2012-01-09T16:58:00.001Z

NO PLACE FOR RACISM:

BUILDING CONFIDENT CLASSROOMS

Show Racism the Red Card and Suffolk Learning and Improvement Service will be running three training days for school leaders, teachers and governors in Suffolk

Monday 23rd Jan 2012: Ipswich Town FC, Portman Rd Ipswich, IP1 2DA

Tuesday 24th January 2012: Orbis Energy, Wilde Street, Lowestoft, NR32 1XH

Wednesday 25th January 2012: Parish Council Hall, Jubilee Centre, Jubilee Way, Mildenhall, IP28 7H

9.30am to 3.30pm

Aims

The training will:

• raise awareness of issues of racism and the impact on young people

• empower delegates to challenge racism and respond to racist incidents

• equip delegates with knowledge and resources to educate young people against racism

• examine how race equality can be promoted through the curriculum

• give delegates the opportunity to raise their concerns and have these addressed

• help schools to meet their obligations under the Single Equality Act (2010)

The conference is called "No place for racism: building confident classrooms" and applicants must book on line at www.suffolkcpd.co.uk

Cost is £30.00 per person for a day's conference.

Dates are: 23rd/ 24th/25th January 2012 at Ipswich, Lowestoft and Mildenhall - in that order.

www.teachersolidarity.com

2012-01-02T21:18:00.001Z

The site that Mary Compton has created is www.teachersolidarity.com. Did we know that Teachers in Cyprus were on strike in December against 'austerity'? On the site there is, for example, a message of solidarity from the South Korean Teachers Union in support of the Langdon School NUT striking against bullying managers! I think this should be a permanent link on the Ipswich NUT blog to inspire resistance. As a retired rank and file member that is what I would like to see, and members encouraged to create their own rather than the 'news' put out by the BBC etc.

Anthony

Pensions Campaign Sell Out? Have your say…

2011-12-31T16:59:00.001Z

From a local member…

I am totally against any form of sell out. The point here is that we are not asking for anything. We are being attacked. There are no offers by the government as we do not want anything more! We want our pensions to be left alone. We must hang on to what we have and demand that the government proves its case with the pension audit demanded by the NUT. I did not take part in strike action to give our benefits away.
We should now take this to the next level and move to longer and strategic action that will make this government listen. The NUT should consider other action such as withdrawing from assessment, not taking part in any extra curricular activities, no parent evenings, no school trips, no cover at all, morning and afternoon walkouts, be strategic! We do not need to lose a days pay each time we take action if we do, we will lose support. The list could be endless. We all know that this government is dishonest and is trying to use us to pay of the deficit. Fight back now or lose much more including the length of holidays, and other terms and conditions.

Do you agree? Post your comments please. This will be the topic of our next Association Meeting. TBA.

Pensions latest – update on talks with Government

2011-12-20T16:43:00.001Z

Dear colleague

Despite the lengthy discussions over the last few days, the current proposals from the Government still do not address all of the NUT’s concerns. The Government still wants you to work longer, pay more and get less.

Under these circumstances the NUT has not been able to sign up to the Government’s headline proposals. In the New Year we expect to receive further documentation from the Government, which we hope will clarify the latest offer. We will keep you fully informed of how these proposals will impact on your pension entitlements.

The NUT will continue to represent your interests in the negotiations, as well as pursuing the court case over the RPI/CPI change.

Your National Executive will meet in January to take a view on progress in the negotiations so far and next steps in our campaign, including any further proposals on industrial action.

Thanks to the many thousands of NUT members who signed Christmas postcards to Michael Gove. I was proud to deliver those to the DfE yesterday, with our Deputy General Secretary, Kevin Courtney. That so many of you signed them is a clear sign of the strength of feeling in the profession. Even since yesterday more than a 1,000 more signatures have arrived at our head office. Please see our website www.teachers.org.uk for a picture of yesterday’s hand-in of the postcards at the DfE.

Please continue to check the NUT website www.teachers.org.uk/pensions and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/NUTonline for more information on the pensions campaign in the New Year.

I wish you a very well-deserved holiday.

With best wishes for Christmas and the New Year.

Yours sincerely

Christine Blower

NUT General Secretary

No sell out on pensions!

2011-12-19T09:02:00.001Z

The 30 November strike of 2.6 million showed the strength and power workers hold when we are united. Yet despite the huge success of that strike, there is now a real danger of a sell out on pensions. The government has also upped the stakes by imposing contribution increases for civil service workers and teachers.

However, there is still much we can do, and the union leaders will not find it easy to simply end the dispute on the basis of the present offer. How we respond now and in the New Year in the run-up to the key TUC meeting on Thursday 12 January will make a difference.

The TUC’s Public Sector Liaison Group (PSLG) is set to meet on Monday to discuss the government’s latest moves and the unions’ response. The government’s “final offer” is no improvement. They still want public sector workers to work longer, pay more and get less. They haven’t moved on core issues:

* Fifty percent rise in pension contributions.
* Normal pension age to rise to the state retirement age. Retirement at 68 for those 34 and under.
* Pensions indexed at CPI instead of RPI, a cut for all existing pensioners.
Trade unionists across the UK have started circulating a statement in response:
‘We agree with those union general secretaries who are against accepting this offer. We ask all union general secretaries, if it was right to strike against these proposals on November 30th how it can be right to accept them now? Ordinary trade union members have demonstrated their determination to resist these unfair and unnecessary changes; we call on our trade union leaders to reject the Government’s bullying tactics and reject their unacceptable offer.’

If you agree with the above, please sign the statement here: http://bit.ly/sVyIla

and please forward to others in public sector trade unions.

(You can view the signatories to date here: http://bit.ly/rJ8SGJ )

We saw in the run up to the strike, the impact of the intensifying pressure on the trade union leaders. Brendan Barber attempted to put a deal that conceded nothing on the three fundamentals of the pensions’ attacks to avert the strike. In his speech at the Birmingham strike rally he ended by stating “I want to settle this dispute through negotiations to avoid further industrial action – that needs the government to come to the table and negotiate fairly."

However, there is no ‘fair deal’ on the table to negotiate. We urgently need to push for escalation; instead of a negotiated deal, the government have to be forced to back down entirely. The 30 November strike could be the beginning of working class resistance, but not if it’s strangled by those with no faith in our ability to fight back.

There is not a penny of new money being offered now. It is merely a reshuffle of a toxic deck. Local government workers have simply been offered a two-year postponement of the contributions’ increase – at the expense of worsening of other aspects of the deal. Disgracefully TUC leader Brendan Barber and Unison general secretary Dave Prentis argued for acceptance. But conceding to Government bullying (threats to withdraw this ‘offer’ if it is not accepted immediately) will simply lead to more vicious assaults.

The UK Government have escalated the battle; the trade unions need to do the same. The unions should immediately name the day for another strike in January that is at least as big as 30 November with two days strike in February.

It is especially important to those of us who work in education, who face attacks on our contracts and draconian cuts in the colleges. Our ability to defend education will be affected if the trade union towel is thrown in over pensions now.

If you agree with these thoughts, please as a matter of urgency send an email to your General Secretary calling for a rejection of any deal on the current ‘offer’ from the UK Government and requesting that your trade union lobbies at the TUC to name another strike day in January. Furthermore, there should be no acceptance of a deal in any form unless there has been thorough democratic consideration by trade union members.

-WHAT HAS THE TORY MP AIDAN BURLEY BEEN GETTING UP TO?

Aidan Burley is the MP who has been heading up the ‘Trade Union Reform Campaign’ endorsed by Cameron and set up to attack union reps. Mr Burley has been leading the charge against union facility time. He has now been filmed at a party in a restaurant in Val Thorens, while dressed as an SS Officer (which is illegal in France). The MP was filmed sitting beside his friend as he said, ‘Let’s raise a toast to Tom for organising the stag do, and if we’re perfectly honest, to the ideology and thought processes of the Third Reich.’

Since the revelations, Mr Burley seems to have gone quiet. Ho, ho, ho.

Yours fraternally

Penny Gower, EIS-FELA President (pc)

PS. Please also see the excellent research the PCS has done (attached) to get the message across that public sector pensions are affordable.

Strike Feedback Survey

2011-12-11T11:45:00.001Z

Dear colleague

Thank you for all of your fantastic work in the build up to last Wednesday’s day of action. Your efforts ensured the day was a huge success.

We’re trying to collect as much information about the impact of the strike and the campaign leading up to it. We’d be really grateful if you could take a few moments to complete the survey by clicking on the following link:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Nov30Feedback

Thanks again for making last week’s strike such a success. We will be discussing the next steps in our ongoing campaign shortly and will keep you posted about any developments.

Kevin Courtney

Privatisation Update Number 19

2011-12-06T20:26:00.001Z

Dear Colleagues,

Privatisation Update Number 19, December 2011 is now available on Hearth at : http://www.teachers.org.uk/node/14599.

It contains the latest news and information on academies, free schools and privatisation issues from the NUT's Privatisation in Education Unit, including:

ACADEMIES CAMPAIGNS

Downhills campaigners join pensions march
Save Kimberly School campaign
Labour Party ward opposes academy expansion

ACADEMIES

New admission codes give academies greater freedom
Academies and free schools to promote marriage
Edison approved as service provider
Faith schools’ academy switch
Coventry Council demands say on academies
Norwich Council calls for parent academy ballots
Kent backs forced academy conversions
ARK disciplinarians drive Gove agenda
Jamie Oliver criticises academies policy
School converts despite massive opposition

DEVELOPMENTS IN INDIVIDUAL ACADEMIES

Parents charged to send children to academy
Oasis MediaCity fight continues
FREE SCHOOLS

£600 million pledged for free schools
Special free schools threaten inclusion
Half of free schools in property hotspots
Atherton free school plans in doubt
Birbalsingh free school moves to Wandsworth
Manchester Grammar plans free school

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Charters have fewer EAL, SEN and Disabled Students

Chantry visited by Gove

2011-12-06T20:23:00.001Z

You may be interested to know that Chantry High school was visited yesterday (briefly) by Michael Gove. He popped into school for about 15 minutes but spoke to no staff or pupils apart from a selected few. Suitable photographs were taken and that was that!

I would have thought that a former trade unionist like Mr Gove might have wanted to speak to some teachers, but evidently not. We wonder why.

Langdon School Union Busting:

2011-12-04T21:11:00.001Z

Fellow trade unionists please add your name, position and use statement
as a petition and send numbers of members who have signed by replying to
prmcgarr@yahoo.co.uk
Amid all the excitement of N30 the dispute at Langdon School in Newham,
East London is now one for the whole trade union movement. The dispute
began over workload and oppressive management and around 70 NUT members
at the school have staged a number of strikes. Suddenly, the management
brouught in 46 scab supply teachers during last week's one day strike
and worse still the Labour local authority has backed this by putting
them on temporary local authority contracts when they scab. The same
happened again this week (Tuesday). The strikers are out 3 days each
week from now til Xmas.
This week (Tuesday 29th) a 90 strong Newham NUT association meeting
voted by 90-0 to ask for a ballot on borough wide strike action in
response to the local authority's Wapping style tactics. This move by
the council is certainly reminscent of Murdoch or Wall- Mart US style
union busting.
Please add your name and any position to the following statement, and
ask anyone you know to sign too. Mail names, position and numbers of
signatures to me at prmcgarr@yahoo.co.uk, include any position and
numbers of people signing. Please forward statement and reply email to
any lists you may be on, as widely as possible.
Best and many thanks
Paul McGarr NUT rep, Langdon Park School, Tower Hamlets, 07903 810044
STATEMENT:

SOLIDARITY WITH LANGDON SCHOOL STRIKERS - STOP THE UNION BUSTING

"We are appalled at developments in the dispute at Langdon School in Newham, east London, which started over issues of workload and oppressive management.

The head has employed up to 46 scab supply teachers and brought them in to try to break a lawful, balloted strike by NUT members at the school. Worse still the local authority, and a Labour one at that, has put this strikebreaking force on temporary local authority contracts when they scab.

This shocking move is unprecedented in education disputes and the employment of a strike breaking force has shades of Rupert Murdoch's union busting tactics under Thatcher's government in the mid 1980s.

We totally condemn this move and see it as a threat to every trade unionist.

We call upon all our unions and organisations to ensure the widest possible condemnation of the head and Newham local authority and to work for the fullest possible solidarity with the Langdon School NUT to beat this attack on the basic trade union right to take legal industrial action."

expansion of faith schools

2011-12-03T06:02:00.001Z

On Saturday 19^th November, NOTORI conducted a static public protest in Chelmsford town centre against religious privilege in society, with particular reference to the expansion of faith schools, and the law which requires an act of collective worship on a daily basis in state funded schools.

The YouTube link below is a 16 minute video containing some of the public’s response to the static protest; including an interview with Stephen Cottrell, the Bishop of Chelmsford giving his views on Church of England schools, and the importance of the concept of God in education.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPelcXQ4J6Q

I am very keen to canvas opinions on the subject from teachers in England and Wales.

Would it therefore be possible to circulate the link to your members and invite them the view the video and perhaps offer their thoughts on the subject by way of comments.

All best regards

Michael Lawrence

NOTORI

actively campaigning against the religious indoctrination of children.

George Galloway vs 3 anti-union, Pro-Public Sector Pension cuts callers

2011-11-30T10:19:00.000Z

Pensions Justice: The attack on public service pensions

2011-11-30T10:15:00.000Z

The message is getting across–4,368 ipswichnut.org hits this month

2011-11-29T20:00:00.001Z

Dear fellow NUT members,

Thanks for all of your support this month. As you can see the campaign on our website is really snowballing.

Please support the march and rally in Ipswich tomorrow.

JOIN US ON THE DAY

NOVEMBER 30^th

IPSWICH DEMONSTRATION

Assemble: 11.30

Russell Road, Ipswich

March to open air rally at Town Hall 12.45

Strike Day Press Statements

2011-11-29T19:38:00.001Z

Tuesday 29^th November

PRESS STATEMENT

IMMEDIATE

Leading members of the local Trade Union movement in Suffolk made the following statements tonight following a Press Conference set up by this Trades Union Council

Teresa MacKay (UNITE)

I am amazed by the statements made today by Chancellor George Osborne. On the eve of the biggest Public Sector Strike ever in this country, he has promised a 1% pay increase next year to follow the pay freeze of the last three years and a further slashing of hundreds of thousands of jobs in the public sector. Who is being confrontational now?

Harvey Crane (PCS

My immediate concern is the attacks being made on women – 65% of my union’s members are women and redundancies are having a disproportionate effect on them. I condemn all the attacks on Public Sector workers who do such a vital job for this country.

Craig Tournay-Godfrey (NUT)

Many teachers on strike today have never been on strike before. This is an indication of the injustice of the Government’s pension proposals. The very nature of the proposals where we will pay more, work longer and get less is an affront. The National Audit Office has estimated that the Teacher’s Pension Scheme is affordable up to 2060. We don’t deserve to be treated like this.

Graham White (Suffolk NUT)

The demonstration tomorrow will show the strength of the Trade Union movement. The BBC’s latest poll today showed that 60% of the public supported the Public Sector workers and a Guardian poll yesterday put that figure at 72%. Education is vital to society and we need to retain good, skilled teachers – giving them a proper pension is part of that deal.

Roger MacKay (retired NUT)

We do have a pension crisis in this country, but it’s not because we are living too long or that our pensions are unaffordable. It’s a crisis of fairness, where workers are being made to pay for the bankers’ speculation, whilst the top 1% of society, (which includes the bankers and the 23 millionaires in the Government’s cabinet), are getting away with the real gold-plated pensions. For instance, Michael Gove, Minister for Education will get a lump sum on retirement of £731,000 and £43,000 per annum.

To add insult to injury today the Chancellor’s proposals brought forward, by ten year,s the date when people will be expected to work longer.

Today we have received messages of support from trades unionists across the country and even from France, where tomorrow they are holding solidarity meetings in support of Public Sector workers in the UK – this strike has become international.

ENDS

NASUWT are 'working to rule' from 1st December 2011

2011-11-28T22:00:00.001Z

The NASUWT balloted members for this action.

NUT view is that work to rule does not really require a ballot although if it is seen as industrial action then it is safer to ballot.

The NUT has published guidelines for reps and members on workload- it was in pamphlet/booklet(teachers workload and working time policy).

NUT members should continue to follow this guidance on cover/PPA/reports/meetings/duties/directed time/mid day break/schemes of work/lesson plans/classroom observation/length of day/class size.

www.teachers.org.uk has copies and further guidance.

NUT members should continue to work 'normally' during the NASUWT action on work to rule.

NUT members should NOT do anything or any tasks carried out by NASUWT members prior to the 'work to rule'

NUT members should do nothing to undermine the action of the NASUWT.

If any NUT member feels pressured into accepting additional tasks or duties as a result of the NASUWT action then they must contact me immediately.It would be helpful to inform the headteacher of the intention to check' if the school can ask me to do this'

The Strike Anthem - 'Let's work together'

2011-11-25T20:13:00.001Z

Smash hits!

The TUC has brought together a group of public sector staff as 'The Workers' to record a cover of 'Let's work together' that they hope will chart in the run up to the 30 November day of action over pensions. The band features the vocals of, among others, Robb Johnson, NUT member and reception class teacher. As part of the campaign to defend pensions and support pensioners 40p from every sale will go to Age UK.

Watch the video

Download the song from 'The Workers' website.

Message of Support from Ipswich Labour Party

2011-11-25T19:13:00.001Z

From: ipswichlabour@gmail.com [mailto:ipswichlabour@gmail.com] On Behalf Of Ipswich Labour Party
Sent: 25 November 2011 10:36
To: Roger Mackay
Cc: Harvey Crane; Tracy Grant; Sandy Martin
Subject: Motion in support of November 30th Action

Roger,

I would be grateful if you could make all the unions involved in Ipswich Trades Council aware of the following motion which received unanimous support at our All Member Meeting last night:

Ipswich Labour Party believes:

· Everyone deserves a fair pension, and is entitled to security and dignity in retirement.

· If the government get their way, public sector workers, struggling to balance the books after a pay freeze and with the cost of living rising, will have to pay more and work longer for pensions that are worth less. That is not a fair deal.

· Everyone should be able to pay into a fair pension for their retirement.

· There should be a fair deal on pensions for public sector workers, and the Labour Party should develop policies to make pensions better and fairer in the private sector too.

Ipswich Labour Party resolves:

· To back public sector workers in their campaign against the government’s unfair triple attack on public sector pensions, and to support the day of action on November 30th.

· To add our name to the statement of support on the unions together website, and to encourage our members and elected councillors to do the same.

· To write to local union branches to notify them of our support, and to ask them to get involved with the CLP.

· To attend the Ipswich campaign rally on 30th November, and take the Ipswich Labour Party banner to show our support.

John Cook

Secretary/Agent

Ipswich Labour Party
www.ipswich-labour.org.uk

A sample letter from a local member that you might like to email to your MP

2011-11-25T19:08:00.001Z

Have just used the government's pension calculator. It's not particularly clear, but with a few further calculations I came to the following conclusions, which I have emailed to my MP. Hope my maths was right, but it really brings home the scale of the attack.

Dr Poulter

I have today received information on the proposed changes to Teachers Pensions.

I have used the link provided (i.e. the governments link) to see the effect on my pension.

http://www.teacherspensions.co.uk/calculator/calculator.html

The information isn't particularly clear, but on further investigation it appears:

If I retire at 60, as most teachers now do (and who in their right mind would want their children taught by an army of 66 year olds?) - my

annual pension will be reduced by £1,848 PER YEAR, and my lump sum reduced by over £19,000.

Looking more closely, my first 25 years of service will have entitled me to a pension of £12,400 p/a, and lump sum of £37,000.

The last 13 years of service (i.e. over half the period to date) will add just another £4,600 p/a and NO LUMP SUM!

And for this massive reduction in benefits, I have the pleasure of paying approximately £120 per month extra by 2015.

So please thank Nick Gibb for being so honest about what the Government intend to impose on us, but do you honestly think that any teacher is going to accept such a massive attack on their current and future well being without taking industrial action to protect themselves and their families.

Dr Poulter, I appreciate that when I have contacted you in the past you always get a response from the appropriate minister, but with respect I would ask you to consider these figures for yourself, put yourself in our position for one minute, and instead of toeing the party line, stand up for your constituents and tell your leaders that these changes are grossly unfair, and will never be accepted.

Thank you.

STRIKE 30 NOVEMBER

2011-11-25T18:59:00.001Z

NATIONAL UNION OF TEACHERS

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

SUFFOLK COUNTY DIVISION Secretary: Graham White

secretary@suffolk.nut.org.uk www.suffolknut.org.uk

Brook Farm, Pooley Street, South Lopham, Diss IP22 2JX

Tel: 01379 687293 Mobile: 07917 445851

STRIKE 30 NOVEMBER

· Demonstration in Ipswich 11.30 Russell Road. Open air rally Town Hall 12.45.
There are also events going on in Lowestoft and Bury St Edmunds. Contact your local secretary.

· Go to www.teachers.org.uk/pensions for latest information and advice and the Pension Loss Calculator.

· Government proposals are to increase contributions by an extra £100 per month, increase retirement age to 68, introduce a career average scheme and reduce the value of your pension by using CPI rather than RPI.

· It is essential you all take strike action on 30^th to protect your and other teachers’ pensions. It is important that the public sector is protected and for you to be part of that public sector demonstration.

· By taking strike action you will lose a day’s pay – this is likely to be around £75 for an ‘average’ teacher.

· Strike action will not break your continuous service and will not affect your pension adversely. For those close to retirement your annual pension will decrease by just over £1 a year.

· The 2007 changes, which were negotiated and agreed are now being rescinded. There has been no actuarial assessment which they are required to do.

· Teachers have paid £46bn more into the pension scheme than has been paid out.

Lowestoft and Bury St Edmunds to demonstrate and march against pensions injustice–Updated

2011-11-25T17:33:00.001Z

FYI and to pass on

The details for the BSE March and Rally are as follows;

Assemble at 10.45 outside HSBC in Bury Street to march to Angel Hill. Contact j.keighley@unison.co.uk

The details for Lowestoft March and Rally are as follows;

UPDATE The Lowestoft March will assemble at 12 Midday at Station Square and move off in time to make the 1 pm start to the Rally at the Lowestoft United Reform Church.

Waveney TUC are also organising a benefit gig ‘Bands Against the Bankers’ at Lowestoft Town Football Club at 7.30 pm

Picketing Advice from Regional Office

2011-11-22T11:47:00.001Z

The position adopted by the Union in relation to picketing has always been pragmatic. There have been few requests from associations and divisions for guidance on picketing. This probably reflects the attitude of members to the idea of picketing school premises. While some members express a clear desire to be involved in picketing and may positively want their place of work to be the object of a picket, others find it an activity with which they do not want to be associated. There is often a reluctance to confront pupils at the school gate and generally amongst NUT members the subject will be sensitive.

There are tactical considerations. In some circumstances the resolution of a dispute may be assisted by a picket and can create a wider feeling of solidarity. In other circumstances, however, it may make the resolution of a dispute more difficult or could result in members being less committed to the dispute and to Union membership.

Careful consideration of all the circumstances, therefore, needs to be undertaken in each case in which picketing may be suggested. The members affected should be fully consulted by the division before the proposal is taken further. Members should not in any way be pressurised to support the holding of a picket.

Where a picket is organised, members of other unions at the school who have not been balloted to take part in action should under no circumstances be asked to take part in the action. They should however be requested to refuse to undertake duties or responsibilities which have been declined by those participating in the action.

Divisions which are considering holding pickets should seek advice at an early stage from the appropriate regional or Wales office.

Head teachers may have made arrangements for schools to be open on a day of industrial action by the Union and taken steps to ensure that all or some pupils will attend school. Where this is the case the advice given below on the legal position in relation to talking to pupils must be followed. In all cases, the safety of the pupils has overarching priority. Members will readily understand that they should do nothing that would put at risk the safety or welfare of children.

The Legal Position on picketing and the Code of Practice

“Picketing” is not an activity peculiar to industrial dispute. It is essentially a group of people assembled at a particular place with the aim of influencing the behaviour of other people. Understood in that way, picketing is subject to a wide range of laws including, for example, the laws about unlawful assembly, nuisance, harassment, assault, trespass and obstruction. All these laws apply to picketing as they apply to any other assembly of people or the activities of individuals.

Without an exception, however, the law would also prohibit picketing in the course of which people may be persuaded not to carry out the obligations of their contracts of employment. Rather than create a right to picket as such, the law gives this exemption from this rule to people whose activity constitutes a lawful picket. This exemption is subject to certain specified conditions.

Some of the conditions are rigidly laid down in an act of Parliament. Others cannot be made so precise and are therefore contained in a Code of Practice.

Compliance with the conditions contained in the Code of Practice is not, however, an absolute protection against complaints of unlawful activity because particular circumstances, for example, the need to clear the highway to give access to emergency services or security concerns, may override.

Compliance with the conditions in the Code of Practice may therefore be taken as protecting pickets against liability for “inducing” others to break their contracts in normal circumstances.

Further, while the Code of Practice offers no specific exemptions from the laws against harassment, nuisance and obstruction, there would be little purpose in making picketing lawful for one purpose if it might be prohibited under other laws.

The Code of Practice may therefore be taken at least as a guide that picketing conducted in accordance with its requirements would not be prohibited for these reasons in normal circumstances.

However, two specific legal points are particularly important in NUT pickets.

First, members will find it obvious that whilst it is lawful to seek to persuade others not to cross a picket line to carry out their employment duties, it is not lawful to try to persuade pupils or students not to go to school. Students should not be encouraged not to attend school if the school has been opened for them. A pupil or student who asks whether this is an objective of the picket should be clearly told that it is not.

Second, it is not lawful for the Union to discipline members who choose to work on a day that the Union is taking industrial action and no member making this choice should be threatened or intimidated by suggestions of Union disciplinary action.

If, following a successful ballot and after full consultation with members, the division feels that a picket may be appropriate then this should only be done in full consultation with the Action Officers. All pickets should be organised in line with these guidelines.

1. “In contemplation or furtherance of a trade dispute”

This is the crucial starting point for a lawful picket. Persuading others, in particular other members of the Union, not to fulfil their employment or other contractual obligations is not lawful and not protected against consequent liabilities unless done in contemplation or furtherance of a trade dispute as legally defined and following a ballot of a member concerned.

The legal definition of a “trade dispute” is precise and does not necessarily extend to all complaints which teachers may feel about matters which affect their work. The Union will have to have satisfied itself that there is a trade dispute and that it has clearly identified precisely how that dispute is formulated before even a ballot is authorised. Any discussion of the nature of the Union’s complaint, such as in publicity material or negotiations with the employer, which could later be argued as suggesting that the Union’s formulation of the trade dispute is not accurate, could open the Union to legal challenge. It is therefore important that such material follows the formulation agreed by the Union.

2. Number of Pickets at an entrance/exit

The Government’s Code of Practice on Picketing says “pickets and their organisers should ensure that in general terms the number of pickets does not exceed six at any entrance to, or exit from, a workplace; frequently a smaller number will be appropriate”. This figure is only advisory but it is likely that the courts will give effect to it.

While participating in a picket, NUT members should avoid obstructing entrances, exits or the highway.

Pickets should remain outside any part of premises which are private property unless they have received permission to enter. Otherwise they could be sued for trespass.

3. Who can picket a workplace?

Picketing is lawful only if it is carried out peacefully by persons attending at or near their own place of work. This is a statutory condition. The workplaces in question are those to which the persons concerned normally report on a daily basis. In the case of members who are mobile or do not report to a fixed workplace, then the administrative centres are deemed to be the relevant places of work.

The only exception to this rule concerns trade union officials, who may join a picket line at or near the places of work of members of their trade unions whom they represent. This means that local division officers and local executive members, for example, can take part in pickets at places where their members work. For more information on this, contact should be made with the relevant regional/Wales office or the Assistant Secretary – Regional Co-ordination, Local Support and Action.

It is not lawful for workers from other places of work to join the picket line and any offers of support on the picket line from outsiders must be refused.

There are in addition occasions, when other people may be present at a picket, not to take part in persuading others not to work or otherwise refuse contractual obligations but rather to show solidarity with and support for the picket. This has not in the past been challenged as making the picket unlawful.

4. Police

It is advisable to notify the police in order to establish good relations in the event of problems arising on the picket lines. It is recommended that the division contact the appropriate police authorities, telling them where they intended to conduct pickets and asking what further information they need.

Pickets should co-operate with the police in requests they make, for example, to keep the streets free from obstruction.

There must be strict adherence to all arrangements agreed with police. These might relate to the position where the pickets should stand; expected standards of behaviour; and the showing of placards.

In particular there must be no use of loud speakers, particularly where private houses are nearby.

Should members be arrested, this should be reported to the appropriate regional or Wales offices in order that any necessary representations or complaints can be made to the police.

Witnesses to an arrest should make a note of the following details:

1. Date and Time

2. The number of police officers involved

3. The name of the member arrested

4. Any reasons given for the arrest

5. Any words exchanged between the police officer and the person arrested.

5. Organisation of the Picket

It is important that picketing is properly organised, including details of times, rotas and members involved, and all relevant information given to those who will be taking part.

Pickets must include only members on strike for whom the workplaces being picketed are their normal places of work and the union officials who represent them (see section 3). Pickets should not be made up entirely of union officials and activists but should include members directly involved in the disputes who are not necessarily committed union activists.

In each case, a letter of authority from the Union should be obtained in advance from the regional/Wales office by the division officer who will be present to oversee the organising of the picket on the day so that it can be shown to the police or persons wishing to cross the picket line if requested.

A picket register should be kept as a record of attendance on picket duty.

Where other unions have balloted their members and are taking action on the same days, divisions should seek to agree how picketing is to be carried out and how the quota of up to six pickets at each entrance or exit is to be composed.

Each picket line should have a picket organiser, whose function is to:

§ arrange for pickets to wear armbands;

§ establish that official placards are on display;

§ liaise with local officers/ co-ordinators;

§ liaise with the police if required.

Armbands and placards can be obtained from the Union on request, in good time, to regional/Wales offices.

6. Identification

Pickets should wear armbands indicating they are on duty. Placards and posters should be displayed stating OFFICIAL STRIKE. These are available from regional/Wales offices.

SUFFOLK COALITION FOR PUBLIC SERVICES Saturday 18th November Bulletin

2011-11-20T08:39:00.001Z

SUFFOLK COALITION FOR PUBLIC SERVICES

Saturday 18^th November

We had a successful day leafleting this morning in Ipswich, with most people receiving the leaflet well.

We will repeat the experience next week, (same place, same time) but in the meantime we have loads of leaflets, kindly paid for by Eastern Region PCS and if you are not able to come to the leaflet sessions in town, you could always leaflet your own neck of the woods door to door.

If you email me, I’ll either deliver or post to you direct. Just let me know where, when and how many leaflets you require. We may even be able to help you deliver.

We know the Government will be doing its utmost to discredit striking public sector workers in the run up to N30 –one of their people was practically hysterical on Radio 4 today! – so every little bit we can do to counteract that will be important!

As we were saying today as we gave out the leaflets – ‘Support the TUC Pensions Campaign! Don’t let the bankers get away with it!’

In solidarity

Roger

roger.mackay@ntlworld.com

Teachers in NASUWT vote for strike over pensions

2011-11-19T11:49:00.001Z

Francis Maud should take note that our campaign is about better pensions for all. Government should be ensuring that private companies are also paying adequately into pensions funds, not penalising the public sector funds that up until now have been managed fairly (largely because there has been a level of accountability lacking in the private sector).

Pensions are wages that are deferred to retirement. Cutting the employers pensions contribution is a pay cut. It’s a national disgrace that many people, according to this government, are denied dreaming of a reasonable pension when they retire.

We’re very happy to welcome our colleagues in the NASUWT into the protest on 30th November and look forward to marching with them in solidarity.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-15791167

http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/news/content/view/full/112131

TO PICKET OR NOT TO PICKET?

2011-11-19T10:19:00.001Z

After June 30^th we can’t say that teachers have no experience of striking! It was a big decision for many to strike on that day but I’m sure most of you will agree that it wasn’t so bad after all! It was in a just cause and many were inspired by the experience of taking action together, which I’m sure is why we are back there again in pursuit of the same goals just a few months later. However, as an Association we have to learn from the experience and for November 30^th we feel we need to encourage school staff, both teachers and support staff to put picket lines in place on that day, wherever possible. We do recognise that the vast majority of school staff have no experience of manning picket lines, which is why we are contacting you through the Association website.

Picketing your own work place when on strike requires a little bit of several factors – leadership, determination, courage and organisation – BUT the main factor is WHY! Once you have decided to go on strike (the hardest decision), you don’t want that decision taken lightly by anyone, whether it’s management at your work place or other workers in your union who, for whatever reason, won’t join in the legal action (after a successful ballot) and go into the work place instead.

As a picket you do not have any legal power to stop them, but you do have the right to encourage them not to go in – obviously this should be done in a polite and courteous manner. Even then you must let them proceed if they refuse to listen to you. So the big question is – Why bother to picket?

The very fact that a picket is in place often produces the desired effect by its very presence. Some may call that intimidation, but look back at line three above and realise just why your union has asked you to go on strike and why you have agreed. An individual who goes against that decision may not have thought through the situation with the same perception as yourself and the majority. For example - on June 30^th we had reported instances of members who went back into schools to work, even though they were officially on strike and weren’t being paid! We know the pressure in the work place can be intolerable at times, but how daft was that – working against the very reason you were on strike and against the action of your work colleagues? I’m sure that was not their intention but the presence of a picket on the school would certainly help such people think and understand a bit more.

The most important fact for November 30^th is that so many public sector workers have decided to say YES in the 20 Unions that have balloted for strike, even Unions that have never taken strike action in decades, or ever! Of course, the unjust proposals being made by this Government about our pensions are totally unreasonable – how many children in the playground understand ‘pay more, work longer, get less’? But it is more than that – the lost jobs, the pay freeze, the benefits withdrawn across the board, the tuition fees scandal, the EMA fiasco, all set against the increases in the cost of living, as seen in food and fuel prices, rents, the continued high house prices etc. that are also the background to this strike.

And let us never forget the reason behind these pension proposals - the bankers’ crisis! This Government want that extra superannuation and those smaller pensions to help pay for that!

So we hope you will understand why we are asking you to join in a legitimate activity that will make our strike on November 30^th more effective and show this Coalition Government just how determined we are in our fight for Pensions Justice.

GUIDELINES ON PICKETING

Ipswich & District Trades Union Council are the coordinators for this TUC Day of Action, as recognised by SERTUC (South Eastern Region TUC). We have notified the police and local authority (IBC) of our intentions to march and rally with our own stewards on 30^th November and we have satisfied the legal requirements in this respect.

1 Peaceful picketing is an official industrial action, recognised as a lawful activity.

2 You may only picket your own workplace and the organiser should inform the Head Teacher of the intention to picket. You do not have to say who is on the picket, only that it will be staff from that school.

3 You should have a notice(s) to say which Union(s) you are and an ‘official picket’ notice and each picket should have an armband to say s/he is a picket. If there two or more Unions wanting to picket, share it out (3 + 3 or 2+2+2) bearing in mind Point 5 below.

4 You should inform the Association Secretary of your intention to picket. He should inform the police and the event coordinators (Ipswich & District TUC) who should inform the police and the CWU (postal workers) who will not cross picket lines to deliver mail.

5 The Code of Practice states that up to a maximum of six at any entrance should be allowed on a picket line – this is not statutory, but the Courts will give effect to that, should it come to a point of law. If you have more than that to picket, organise a rota so everyone gets a turn!

6 Choose your spot for picketing with two main facts in mind- a) you want to cover the entrance to the school (maybe two or more entrances) and b) you want to stop traffic entering car parks to talk to the drivers without endangering yourselves.

7 Peaceful picketing should mean just that – be polite, don’t be abusive (however difficult that may be!) It doesn’t win arguments. In this day and age, most of the arguments are well rehearsed beforehand, but you may win some and remember, by being there you have made the difference. You must let people cross the line if they wish, but you can ask them not undertake any duties other than their own. You must let in those who have not been balloted.

Have your Union leaflets about the dispute with you to give to people crossing the picket line or to members of the public who may pass by. Get a balance of older and younger members on the picket.

8 Picket from one hour before opening time to one hour after. You may decide to do more than that – it’s your workplace and you know best! Don’t forget to organise some refreshment if it’s thought necessary. But don’t forget we want to see you down at the March and Rally (11.30 am at Russell Road, outside Endeavour House!

9 Do cooperate with the Police should they advise you about obstruction and keeping streets open to traffic. You can negotiate with then for some time for stopping cars and deliveries coming into the work place, so you can exchange information briefly and ask them not to go in.

10 Should there be a highly unlikely event such as a picket being arrested, please report that ASAP to the mobile number you will be provided with should you decide to have a picket. Witnesses to an arrest (or any notable activity that could become ‘legal’) should note the following details

A Date and Time

B The number of police involved

C The name of the member arrested

D Any expressed reason given for the arrest

E Any words exchanged between the police and the person arrested.

11 And Good Luck! Just as striking for the first time brings about a certain amount of satisfaction and pride, so does staffing a picket line!

Roger MacKay

President, Ipswich & District Trades Union Council.

Decent Pensions lobby of Parliament

2011-11-18T15:25:00.001Z

Click Here for PDF Version of the results

Dear colleague,

Thanks to everyone who helped make the Decent Pensions lobby of Parliament on 26 October such a success.

Over two thousand teachers and lecturers from the length and breadth of the country came to Westminster to lobby their MPs. The vast majority of MPs were lobbied and many of those Parliamentarians that were unavailable arranged to meet teachers locally at a later date. If you know of any MPs in your area that weren’t lobbied please do seek to encourage members from their area to meet with them.

We have received lots of valuable feedback on meetings with MPs. Please encourage lobbyists from your area to provide feedback here if they have not already done so. It will be really helpful to have a complete picture of MPs' responses.

Feedback is still coming in but the latest we have is attached to this email. It is clear from the feedback that Michael Gove and Danny Alexander will be receiving lots of letters over the coming days as most MPs agreed to write to them to relay their constituents concerns. Although we were not surprised that not every MP supports our case, we were pleased that many of those not on our side do at least concur with us on the need for the Government to conduct the overdue valuation of the TPS.

As well as the effective lobbying that took place, the General Secretaries of the seven unions involved presented the Schools Minister, Nick Gibb MP, with the joint petition signed by over 150,000 teachers and lecturers.

The lobby and the large number of petitions returned should serve as a wake-up call to the Government. It demonstrated the unity of the profession in opposing the Government’s proposed changes to our pensions. If Ministers don’t recognise that pensions are both affordable and sustainable, the support of teachers and the rest of the public sector for the TUC day of action on 30 November will be the next demonstration of our resolve and determination to stand up for our pensions.

Yours sincerely,

CHRISTINE BLOWER KEVIN COURTNEY

General Secretary Deputy General Secretary

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2011-11-16T13:56:00.001Z

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'Believe in D&T' Campaign

2011-11-15T20:18:00.001Z

The Design and Technology Association's aspirational 'Believe in D&T' Campaign is gathering momentum, proving to the Government that D&T should very much remain a statutory part of the National Curriculum!

So far, a massive 7,700 people have signed the petition, and with the SMMT now backing the cause, the campaign is only going from strength to strength! Just today, SMMT Chief Executive Paul Everitt addressed a breakfast event hosted by The Design and Technology Association, to provide a forum for senior business leaders, industry stakeholders and Government officials to consider the implications for UK industry if D&T is no longer a statutory subject. A panel of industry representatives, chaired by The Guardian’s Industrial Editor, Dan Milmo, discussed the importance of D&T in light of the Government’s ambition to rebalance the UK economy towards manufacturing and enhance the global competitiveness of production industries.

What's more, James Dyson himself has been vocal on his support for D&T, appearing on Radio 4 and 5 yesterday morning, plus, an inspirational letter entitled 'Britain needs young designers and engineers' appeared in The Times on the 9th November - CLICK HERE to read. With The D+T Show opening this Thursday 17th November, the support for this integral subject has never been stronger!

How can you help?

Firstly, make sure you visit The D+T Show this week and show your support in person! Secondly, whilst you are at the show, stop by The Design and Technology Association Stand B48 to express your views, and talk to them about becoming a member of The Design & Technology Association. Thirdly, why not write to your MP about the National Curriculum review, make them aware of this situation and invite them to raise this issue with relevant policymakers in Government? CLICK HERE for more information. Last but not least, make sure you sign the petition at www.believeindandt.org, or alternatively on their Stand at the show, to make sure your voice is heard by Government, and that we protect D&T in your school.

Pensions Pamphlet - arguments for pensions justice and against the equality of misery

2011-11-14T20:00:00.001Z

The NUT, in conjunction with other unions and the National Pensioners Convention, has produced a very good pamphlet putting the arguments for pensions justice and against the equality of misery
It contains some very useful figures we can use in the media, newsletters and leaflets - such as the fact that:

in the 1990s private companies saved £18bn on pensions holidays, money that was never paid back into their schemes.

The pamphlet completely undermines the government’s claim that cuts to public sector pensions are about ‘fairness’.

Copies are being sent to divisions and that more can be ordered –

Download PDF here

STRIKE ACTION ON 30 NOVEMBER 2011 – UPDATE (2)

2011-11-14T18:07:00.001Z

Circular No.:	11-158/S&C
Date:	14 November 2011
To:	Secretaries of Divisions and Local Associations – 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

STRIKE ACTION ON 30 NOVEMBER 2011 – UPDATE (2)

Strike Notice Arrangements

We will be despatching the strike notices to employers of our members in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme on Tuesday, 15 November 2011. In addition to the statutory notice to the local authority employer, courtesy letters will be sent to the head teachers of all community schools. As you know, these are not required by law and will be sent after the formal strike notices, which are the priority.

The ballot of our members in the Local Government Pension Scheme closes on Wednesday, 16 November. We will press release the result on the morning of Thursday, 17 November. The Executive will meet to discuss the result and decide on strike action arising from this ballot at their meeting on Thursday. Assuming that they recommend that LGPS members will be called upon to take action on 30 November, the strike notices relating to this constituency will be sent out on Thursday afternoon, together with the result.

All notices will be sent by first class post. In the case of the notices to local authorities, they will also be emailed to a named employee in the HR/personnel department where this information has been provided by regional/Wales colleagues.

In the case of schools which have transferred to academy status since the ballot in May, we will be relying upon the original ballot notice and sending separate notification of strike action to the ‘chair of governors’ or equivalent in these schools.

Materials for 30 November Strike Rallies

We are producing a range of materials for distribution to local officers including flags, sashes, placards and stickers. These materials will be delivered week commencing 21 November to the addresses we have on file for local association and division secretaries at Regional/Wales offices. You will be contacted in advance of delivery by our despatch company U4 to arrange a convenient delivery day. Please note that materials are limited due to cost considerations. You may well not, therefore, receive as many as you would ideally like. Where possible, please reuse any flags and other materials that you have from the 30 June strike. Please also encourage members to make ‘homemade’ placards with individual slogans.

In the case of the North West region, we will be delivering materials to the Regional Office and your Regional Secretary will be in touch with local officers to arrange onward distribution.

If you want materials delivered to a different address than the one that you have notified to your R/W office, please contact Rachel Baxter at r.baxter@nut.org.uk with:

· the full delivery address;

· a mobile contact number.

You must do this by Thursday, 17 November or we cannot guarantee delivery to the alternative address.

Queries from Members and School Representatives

We have produced revised ‘FAQs’ for members and school representatives which are available on the website in the campaign/pensions section. These deal with many of the queries that you may be receiving such as:

· I haven’t received another ballot paper – can I strike?

· I am a new member of the NUT – can I strike?

· The Government’s made concessions – why are we still striking?

· I am a student member on a school placement – can I strike?

· How much salary will I lose if I take a day’s action?

We will be setting up a dedicated strike telephone line which will operate from Monday, 21 November to Tuesday, 29 November on 020 7380 6300. In the meantime, those queries you cannot answer should be referred to Regional/Wales offices.

Communications Schedule

A ‘tabloid’ style newspaper will be delivered to all schools by Monday, 21 November, with articles on the pension dispute. A member mailing to those in the ballot constituency will arrive at home addresses by Thursday, 24 November, with a letter from the General Secretary debunking the Government’s inaccurate and misleading claims about their revised offer being the basis of a settlement with unions.