Teachers strike to defend pay and conditions and to…

Stand up for education!

Women trade unionists marching female NUT demo, photo Paul Mattsson

Women trade unionists marching female NUT demo, photo Paul Mattsson   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

Jane Nellist, NUT national executive, West Midlands (personal capacity)

With a massive 91.7% ‘Yes’ vote in the National Union of Teachers (NUT) ballot for strike action in England, teachers have given a resounding message that ‘enough is enough!’

The NUT national executive confirmed the first day of strike action will be on 5 July and agreed to stand by its commitment of further days in the autumn term.

With the Tory government in disarray following the EU referendum vote to leave, we have a chance to win a massive victory for teachers and for education.

Funding cuts are hitting schools, resulting in job losses and cuts to additional support for the most vulnerable pupils. This will get far worse in many schools if the Tories succeed in changing the formula used to fund schools, ironically called ‘fair funding’.

Workload

Workload continues to cause misery for teachers who are facing endless pressures from government demands and the ‘exam factory’ education system that hits teachers and pupils – all exacerbated by the funding cuts.

The Tories’ drive towards the academisation of every school means our national pay and conditions could be ripped up leaving teachers worse off in terms of cuts to take home pay, sick pay and maternity pay.

Surveys of members already show that vast numbers of teachers are being denied pay increases they should be entitled to. If the Tories get their way this will only get worse. We have to stand and fight for increased funding to schools and education, guaranteed terms and conditions in all types of schools and resumed negotiations on teacher contracts to allow workload to be addressed.

Teachers know that there is lots of support from parents and wider communities. Growing numbers of parent groups are organising to stand up for state education. They are opposing forced academy conversions, excessive testing and supporting the need to have qualified teachers teaching their children as well as fighting against cuts to funding which threaten educational opportunities.

You can support our strike by posting on social media, visiting our picket lines on the morning of the strike and if you can, attending the rallies being held in various cities across England. And if you are a parent, why not talk to other parents and start a support group.


National Shop Stewards Network (NSSN) conference

Organise to take on the Tories! Link up strikes!

Come to the 10th annual NSSN conference!

Saturday 2 July 2016, 11am to 4.30pm – Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL (Tube: Holborn)

Jane Nellist will be speaking alongside Yann Venier a striker from France and secretary of the CGT trade union in Nancy, BMA junior doctors, and leading members of the BFAWU, FBU, RMT, PCS and POA – come talk about your dispute too!