Supply Teachers Organise at NUT Conference

The second NUT Supply Teachers' Conference is taking place at the NUT national HQ in London today. Supply teachers have been at the sharp end of privatisation for too long. As direct employment through Local Authority pools has been replaced in most areas by profiteering private agencies, supply teachers have seen their pay slashed. Legislative changes (consistently opposed by the NUT) allowing schools to use non-qualified staff to cover classes have also threatened their job security. Of course, this fragmentation and privatisation also threatens children's education too.

 

A well-supported survey of NUT supply members has shown a continuing decline in LA-run supply pools.  Less than 5% of teachers now say they mainly obtain work via LA-run pools. Over two thirds now mainly obtain work via agencies or agency-run LA pools and the remaining 25% obtain work directly from schools.

The number of agencies continues to grow, further fragmenting provision. Overall, it is estimated that there around 500 nationally. The biggest operators include Teaching Personnel, Randstad Education, Hays, Protocol and Capita. Contrast the massive salaries and bonuses paid to those running these outfits compared to the pay-rates going to agency staff!

These agencies can of course make an easy profit out of school budgets - typically £50 a day for placing a teacher in a school - because they don't have to pay the STPCD rates of pay that still apply to most permanent colleagues. Almost half of those surveyed reported a regular daily rate of just £100-125 and a further 16% report a regular rate below £100. Of course, these rates are a good way below what the agencies charge schools. Remember, this income also has to sustain supply colleagues through their holidays too -  and, of course, there's no sick pay entitlement either.  That's a scandal that needs to be better publicised.

The survey also suggests that supply rates are being driven downwards - 42% say they are being paid lower or significantly lower pay than they were for supply teaching three years ago. Work is still available - perhaps reflecting the growing turnover in schools - but some colleagues reported teaching work being offered to them under the guise of lower-paid employment as a "cover supervisor".

A colleague reporting from a visit to the USA made clear that these attacks are an international phenomenon too.

Supply agencies cannot offer their employees access to the Teachers' Pension Scheme at present. The NUT survey shows that many agencies have now begun to offer access to a workplace pension scheme, under new requirements on employers. These are, however, markedly inferior to the TPS, with contributions as low as 1% from the employer and schemes available only above a certain earnings threshold.

 

The NUT has been successful in securing portability of Disclosure and Barring certificates.  It seems, however, that some agencies are not taking steps to apply this portability in their practices.

The NUT has launched a Charter for Supply Teachers setting out demands on LA pools, pay and pensions. The Charter also refers to the importance of workplace support for supply teachers. The most frequently cited problems relate to individual pupil information, teaching resources and planned work for students. 

The Conference discussed plans to strengthen organisation to win gains for supply teacher members. One suggestion is to develop an NUT 'Kite Mark' for agencies, depending on the pay rates that they offer teachers. This could set down basic entitlements for negotiation with agencies and act as a basis for campaigning and pressurising agencies to improve salaries. The Kite Mark could also include other matters like pensions, CPD and  DBS portability. 

While all the supply teachers in my workshop agreed we should certainly 'name-and-shame' the worst agencies, some  wanted further discussion on whether awarding a Kite Mark to an agency that is still paying under the statutory rate was a wise move. Having a 'gold', 'silver' and 'bronze' award might be a way forward. There were also requests for legal advice on a range of issues specific to supply teachers including 'finders fees', unpaid work, national insurance contributions and  support over complaints.

Support was given to proposals for a Lobby of Parliament in the October half-term to publicise these issues and also for building supply teacher organisation within the Union. For example, London teachers proposed holding a regional supply teachers' network meeting in September.

The big turnout at the Conference, and the anger and determination expressed from the supply teachers present, shows how the supply teacher network and campaigns must continue to build and strengthen. The National Union now has a responsibility to make sure we do everything we can to put these plans into practice.

 

GMB join UNISON and NUT in action on July 10

NUT and GMB out on strike together in 2011

The momentum for July 10 is really building with the news that both of the main school support staff unions will be taking strike action alongside their teaching colleagues in the NUT on July 10th*.

Following the earlier confirmation that UNISON members will be striking on the day, the GMB have now announced the positive results of their ballot too - and by a good margin of support:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-28060836  reports that: 

"Members of the GMB union will join a day of action that could see more than one million workers on strike in total.

The GMB said council and school workers voted by three to one to walk out on 10 July over a pay offer worth 1% to most.

The date is significant because it has been earmarked as a general day of protest over government policy on cutting public sector costs and jobs.

Members of public service union Unison have already voted to strike over pay on the same day.

The National Union of Teachers has also voted to strike on 10 July, raising the prospect of disruption in schools across England and Wales.

The government is now facing a walkout by more than a million public sector workers next month, including council staff, school support workers, teachers and civil servants".

Plans for joint rallies and marches are being confirmed, with the London march finishing with a rally in Trafalgar Square.

Next weekend's eighth Annual Conference of the National Shop Stewards Network is also now well-timed to prepare for united action. As it says on the NSSN flyer, let's "strike together for a pay rise" - and to defend public services and the pay and conditions of those who provide those services.

This will also be a Conference where we can discuss how action can win victories. A representative from the victorious $15Now campaign that has lifted the minimum wage to $15 per hour in Seattle will address the meeting. Other speakers include the General Secretaries of the POA and BFAWU and the RMT and PCS National Presidents.

Now let's build for mass co-ordinated strike action on July 10th  and win victories here in Britain too.

(* It is worth noting that some support staff have been excluded from the ballot in certain schools and Authorities - check locally with GMB and UNISON )

NUT General Secretary Election Result

As expected, the votes announced today have confirmed the re-election of Christine Blower as NUT General Secretary. However, I am pleased that the strength of support for my candidature represents a real achievement for my campaign.

NUT GS ELECTION RESULT: 
CHRISTINE BLOWER: 28,428 73%
MARTIN POWELL-DAVIES: 10,470 27%

Turnout 13 %
After the Local Associations National Action Campaign voted to back my stand in February, I only had three months to gather the nominations required to make my challenge. That first target was achieved but, although outnumbered five-to-one in Local Association nominations, the 3:1 vote in the actual election  records a closer margin when it came to members' votes.

My support was generated by a campaign that sought to reflect the anger of classroom teachers at the conditions they face - and a frustration amongst many NUT members that the Union was failing to campaign with sufficient clarity and determination to oppose the ongoing attacks on our pay, pensions and conditions - and on education as a whole. 

Even my opponents acknowledged that my election materials were well-received in schools. Some certainly feared that the final margin of Christine's victory might be tighter still. My demands for clear campaign goals and for a clear calendar of strike action struck a chord with teachers at every meeting that I was able to address.

I always knew that Christine, as a sitting candidate, could rely on support from many teachers out of loyalty to the Union as a whole - and understandably so. She also had the backing of the main caucuses within the NUT and could take advantage of the Union giving her coverage throughout the election period. In contrast, my time and resources were limited.

I was always confident that, where teachers found time to read the election statements and debate the issues, many would decide to give me their votes. The challenge was to make sure that such a debate took place amongst teachers ground down by workload. Unfortunately, as the turnout showed, most did not return their voting papers. 

Regrettably, no hustings took place at Annual Conference or at Local Association meetings. The Teacher magazine neglected to even mention the election was taking place, making it even harder for me to publicise my challenge. 

To secure over 10,000 votes, despite all the disadvantages facing my campaign, is a real achievement. I believe that my campaign has helped make sure that the Union has responded by sharpening its campaign messages. For example , the latest leaflet to members calling for action on July 10 is sharper and more focused than some we have previously issued.

My campaign has also helped keep up the pressure for maintaining strike action on March 26 and now July 10 - action which must now be built for as strongly as possible.

Of course I regret that I will not be now using my skills and energy to drive forward the Union as a newly-elected GS but will, as ever, be working hard to build our campaigns and support and advise colleagues. 

I have to warn that there is a risk, now the GS election is over, that the doubts and uncertainties amongst some on the National Executive will become more prominent. A membership consultation planned for early next term could be used as a pretext to wind down the campaign - rather than, as I hope it will be, to build momentum for the necessary escalation of action. Therefore, the real campaign is still far from over.

Finally, I want to thank everyone who supported my campaign over the last few months. Teachers who have supported the campaign, and especially those Associations determined to build LANAC as a strong force within the Union, must take heart from the vote achieved. We have to continue to strengthen the Union,  maintain our pressure for a calendar of action and work to make sure we build a Union that gives the fighting lead needed to defend teachers and education.

Norwegian teachers reject negotiated deal and prepare to strike

News is breaking that Norwegian teachers have voted by a large majority, and with a high turnout, to reject the proposed deal on pay and conditions that had been proposed at the end of negotiations between their union and their employers.

The results of the ballot were:
73% NO to the deal
27% YES to the deal
Turnout 67%

More details to follow - but be ready to support our colleagues in Norway taking action to defend education and to oppose the kind of attacks that teachers are facing internationally.

(See previous International posts for the background to this dispute)

UPDATE: This article in English gives more information on the dispute: http://theforeigner.no/pages/news/widespread-norway-teachers-strike-official/

“They have said a resounding ‘no’ to the deal put forward by the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities (KS),” union leader Ragnhild Lied said at today’s NRK-televised press conference. Talks between the union and the employers’ organisation had been successful. They had recommended their members accept the new working agreement.27 per cent of the more than two-thirds who voted did.

Included in this was the teacher losing current flexibility to carry out pre and post-lesson work at home, instead of at school. It means they would have to be there for 7.5 hours a day, like many employment agreements at businesses in Norway. A 3.3 per cent pay rise was also part of the agreement. The number of hours teachers put in regarding their work – which includes preparation and meetings – is considered to be higher than those of staff such as office workers' in the course of a school year. Teachers get the same amount of paid annual leave, with additional days/weeks being time in lieu or due to public holidays.

Ms Lied admitted they knew certain parts of the new deal would be contentious, but had underestimated “the mistrust KS has created amongst teachers – one that has built up over time.” “We’ve taken self-criticism on board, and are now ready to lead a strike,” she said, smiling. According to her, a walkout will now be staged at one school in Bergen, with minor strike action occurring during the summer holidays. Parents and pupils will only start to notice the consequences of teachers’ vote at the beginning of the school year. “We’ll be strongly escalating strike action at this time”, Ms Lied informed reporters, “and this can be widespread and long-lasting.” 

Teachers in Oslo municipality have their own agreement and will not be staging industrial action. The Union of Education represents some 93,000 educational staff.

OECD survey confirms teacher demoralisation and overwork

A press release from the National Union of Teachers commenting on the OECD's Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) reports the following findings on the views of Headteachers and Key Stage 3 teachers in England:

“Only one in three teachers feels their profession is valued by society – a statistic that should shock the Government. Conversely, 87 per cent of teachers agreed or strongly agreed that parents were supportive.

“Hours worked by full time teachers on all tasks is on average 52 hours a week. This is in line with the Government’s own Teachers’ Workload Diary Survey. Half of teachers reported working more than 50 hours a week and one in ten said they worked more than 65 hours. Among part time teachers, a quarter work more than 38 hours. In all cases these are high by international standards, especially compared with Finland – a high performing country where teachers’ average hours are 32 per week. Teachers in England also reported spending more hours on non-face-to-face teaching tasks such as planning, marking and general administrative work.

“Around half of teachers believed appraisal and feedback added no value to their teaching pedagogy or self-efficacy and merely served to satisfy administrative requirements.

“Amongst head teachers in England, the survey makes it very clear that they feel the main barriers to their effectiveness are Government regulation and policy (79%), inadequate budgets and resources (78%) and high workload and level of responsibilities (68%).

“This survey backs up what we already know about the existing problems and concerns facing the profession. The message to Government from this survey is clear: teachers’ workloads are unmanageable and unsustainable and teachers feel undervalued for the challenging job they do.

“This is an issue that concerns everyone. Our children deserve enthusiastic, energetic teachers, not overworked and stressed ones. It is high time the Government addressed these pressing matters. Failure to do so will lead, without a doubt, to further teacher shortages, which is clearly bad for education”.

Strike together on July 10

 

"UNISON today confirmed that its local government and school support staff members in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will be taking one day of strike action on 10 July in support of better pay.  The decision was taken following a yes vote in a strike ballot, announced earlier today". (https://www.unison.org.uk/media-centre/local-government-strike-date-sent-for-10-july)

The news that UNISON's strike is definitely ON must now be the signal for school union reps and their colleagues to go all out to build for the biggest possible joint action on July 10 - in the knowledge that there is a good chance that further unions like GMB and PCS will be announcing that they will be joining us on strike too.  

Now the strike action has been called, we have to make sure it is as well-supported as possible. Teachers can help encourage support staff to take action - and vice versa. Together, we can build a strike of over a million public sector workers. We should rally together on the day in united mass demos to raise confidence and hit the headlines. For example, Trafalgar Square is being booked in London for a strike rally. 

We must also get our message across to the public. The NUT is producing new leaflets for parents. In response to a letter that I sent to Headteachers in Lewisham this morning, asking them to resist pressure that may be put on them to undermine our action, I have already had some Heads agree to order leaflets to explain to parents why the strike is taking place.

As I explained in the letter: "we hope you will be able to help us explain to parents that we are acting to defend not just staff pensions, pay and conditions but also to defend education as a whole. The demoralising effect of Government policies threatens the long-term stability of school staffing. Last week’s Review Body report spoke of “the risk of those in the profession feeling under-valued and recruitment and retention suffering as a consequence”. At the same time, we see Gove’s meddling in the curriculum and decision-making by Ofsted, and the excessive spending on free schools while the school place crisis continues. The NUT will be producing parents’ leaflets explaining these points – please let the NUT Office know if you would like copies sent to you".

The letter can be downloaded from the Lewisham NUT website via http://local.teachers.org.uk/templates/asset-relay.cfm?frmAssetFileID=12723

 Get Together to Strike Together:
Come to the 8th Annual NSSN Conference on Saturday July 5th – ‘What recovery? We want our share! Fight Together for a Pay Rise! – Break the pay freeze, fight for a real living wage, oppose zero-hour contracts, fight for PAYE’. 

Leaflet: http://www.scribd.com/doc/221151679/NSSN-2014-conference-leaflet
It will be on from 11am-5pm in Conway Hall – 25 Red Lion Square, Holborn, London WC1R 4RL – delegate/visitor fee £6. Confirmed speakers include Ronnie Draper BFAWU bakers’ union General Secretary, POA General Secretary Steve Gillan, Janice Godrich PCS President and Peter Pinkney RMT President…plus a speaker from the victorious Seattle $15Now campaign!!

Confirmed workshops include:-

• Fast food rights/zero-hour contracts/living wage/$15Now
• Fighting NHS cuts
• Construction: fighting the umbrella scam and blacklisting
• Political representation for workers after the Collins Review
• Housing workers fighting back

NUT marches against austerity with the People's Assembly

Up to 50,000 people marched through Central London today to demand 'No More Austerity'. 

The demonstration, organised by the People's Assembly, was well supported by the NUT. The 'Stand Up for Education' block near the front of the march was one of the biggest and liveliest sections.

I have uploaded some footage on youtube to give you a flavour of the march:

Today's march should be a great platform to build from for a massive public-sector strike on July 10th.