At the invitation of CPERS, the 100-000 strong teachers´ union of the Rio Grande do Sul state, I have travelled to the World Social Forum in Brasil. The Social Forum gathers together a wide range of organisations and campaigns to discuss building an alternative to the ´neo-liberal´ attacks coming from many of the world´s governments.
It has been a tremendous opportunity to discuss, particularly with teachers and trade unionists, about the common battles we face against cuts, privatisation and governments who are seeking to undermine trade unions.
I have been able to explain to Brasilian colleagues about the battles teachers face in England and Wales. In turn, I have discussed their struggles - in a country where arrests on demonstrations and repression of activists are still too common. CPERS have been battling against the state governor´s attacks on trade unions (and her corruption) while teachers in neigbouring Sao Paulo state face a battle against attempts to make teachers pass a ´test´ to continue in work - rather like the threatened ´MOT for teachers´ back home.
Speaking from the platform to a meeting of 600 teachers called by CPERS to discuss íf ´another education is possible´, I outlined the struggles facing teachers in Britain, whoever wins the next election. The audience reaction to my criticism of inspectors who had little recent experience of teaching themselves showed that OFSTED-style criticism is certainly not just an English problem!
I concluded that ´another education is possible ´ but only if we mobilise trade unions and communities to fight to win it. Another - much worse - education is also threatened if we allow cuts and privatisation to take hold.
Brasil also faces national elections this year and I also attended a fringe meeting addresssed by Plinio, who will hopefully be selected as a joint left candidate for President. Once again, I was able to bring support from trade unionists in England who - like them - are battling to challenge the privatising politicians at the ballot box as well as through trade union action.
CPERS are known as one of the best organised and most militant unions in Brasil. I hope that we can keep up links between CPERS and the NUT - and particularly with supporters of Classroom Teacher who are campaigning to build a determined Union. I distributed a few copies of the latest ´Classroom Teacher´ to CPERS members so that they could read about the struggles we face on cuts, academies and workload.
I am also hoping to meet members of the executive of the teachers´ union of Sao Paulo state before I leave Brasil. I will post a further report when I return to England.
Martin Powell-Davies
Thursday, 28 January 2010
Monday, 18 January 2010
Standing for the National Executive
Lewisham NUT passed the folllowing motion at its General Meeting tonight:
Lewisham NUT
1) Welcomes the fact that three Associations (Lewisham, Hackney and Greenwich) have nominated Martin Powell-Davies to stand in the election for the two Inner London seats on the National Executive this March.
2) Backs Martin's decision to stand in the election should Kevin Courtney be elected as NUT Deputy General Secretary
This is Martin's election statement:
TOUGH ...
As a teacher and trade unionist, I know how:
• Workload and bullying keep getting worse.
• OFSTED and endless initiatives demoralise dedicated teachers.
• Academies and Trusts are spreading across London, even to primary schools.
... GETTING TOUGHER ...
After the General Election, we know pay, jobs and pensions are in danger – meaning more:
• Debt for young teachers.
• Pressure to meet targets – or else!
• Divided communities and disaffected pupils.
• Privatisation, threatening the very future of Local Authorities.
... UNLESS WE ACT!
VOTE POWELL-DAVIES 1 FOR DETERMINED LEADERSHIP FOR LONDON TEACHERS
Every candidate can list similar grievances – but who will best provide determined leadership? My campaigning record shows I can give teachers confidence to stand firm together. Lewisham NUT’s membership has doubled since I became its Secretary.
... and clear strategy? I believe the present Executive’s strategy is failing. Individuals and school groups are left to struggle in isolation. National problems need national action.
VOTE POWELL-DAVIES 1 TO CUT WORKLOAD THROUGH NATIONAL ACTION
The last two NUT Annual Conferences have supported my call for national action over excessive workload. We don’t want any more empty promises about ‘work/life balance’. We need to win legally binding limits on overall working hours, class contact time and class sizes.
VOTE POWELL-DAVIES 1 - UNITE TO DEFEND PAY, JOBS AND PENSIONS
Why should our pay, pensions and public services be sacrificed to pay for a crisis caused by the ‘banksters’ greed? We must organise with parents and other unions to oppose cuts and privatisation, including:
• Building joint meetings and demonstrations
• Backing anti-cuts candidates for MPs and councillors
Above all, united action can make Governments think again. Let’s prepare for it! I would visit London teachers to discuss the best combination of public campaigning, working-to-rule and strike ballots - then ensure we turn words into action!
Lewisham NUT
1) Welcomes the fact that three Associations (Lewisham, Hackney and Greenwich) have nominated Martin Powell-Davies to stand in the election for the two Inner London seats on the National Executive this March.
2) Backs Martin's decision to stand in the election should Kevin Courtney be elected as NUT Deputy General Secretary
This is Martin's election statement:
TOUGH ...
As a teacher and trade unionist, I know how:
• Workload and bullying keep getting worse.
• OFSTED and endless initiatives demoralise dedicated teachers.
• Academies and Trusts are spreading across London, even to primary schools.
... GETTING TOUGHER ...
After the General Election, we know pay, jobs and pensions are in danger – meaning more:
• Debt for young teachers.
• Pressure to meet targets – or else!
• Divided communities and disaffected pupils.
• Privatisation, threatening the very future of Local Authorities.
... UNLESS WE ACT!
VOTE POWELL-DAVIES 1 FOR DETERMINED LEADERSHIP FOR LONDON TEACHERS
Every candidate can list similar grievances – but who will best provide determined leadership? My campaigning record shows I can give teachers confidence to stand firm together. Lewisham NUT’s membership has doubled since I became its Secretary.
... and clear strategy? I believe the present Executive’s strategy is failing. Individuals and school groups are left to struggle in isolation. National problems need national action.
VOTE POWELL-DAVIES 1 TO CUT WORKLOAD THROUGH NATIONAL ACTION
The last two NUT Annual Conferences have supported my call for national action over excessive workload. We don’t want any more empty promises about ‘work/life balance’. We need to win legally binding limits on overall working hours, class contact time and class sizes.
VOTE POWELL-DAVIES 1 - UNITE TO DEFEND PAY, JOBS AND PENSIONS
Why should our pay, pensions and public services be sacrificed to pay for a crisis caused by the ‘banksters’ greed? We must organise with parents and other unions to oppose cuts and privatisation, including:
• Building joint meetings and demonstrations
• Backing anti-cuts candidates for MPs and councillors
Above all, united action can make Governments think again. Let’s prepare for it! I would visit London teachers to discuss the best combination of public campaigning, working-to-rule and strike ballots - then ensure we turn words into action!
Saturday, 9 January 2010
Join the Classroom Teacher Network
A group of teachers who backed Martin Powell-Davies’ recent stand in the NUT Vice-President election
For action on workload
To defend public sector schools
To defend the rights of classroom teachers in academies and trust schools
And to resist the attacks on education whichever canaille wins the general election!
Click here to join the facebook group.
Click here for the blog
Wednesday, 18 November 2009
Thanks for your support!
Congratulations to Nina Franklin who won the election to become Senior Vice-President. Marilyn Harrop will be Junior V-P.
With 3028 first preference votes, I was fourth of the six candidates, a creditable performance for a campaign without the support of one of the blocs within the Union and an execellent figure compared to the number of nominations I received.
I hope that the votes show that there are many NUT members looking for a campaigning Union - one that acts together to defend members from the attacks we face, and one prepared to take national action on workload. The Union urgently needs to take that united stand - or see even more fragmentation of education and further isolation and division of teachers and schools.
I hope that the support for a determined stand will also be shown in the elections for Deputy General Secretary through the election of Kevin Courtney. I am only disappointed that I cannot be there as a National Officer to give Kevin the backing that he will need.
I do, however, already have two nominations to stand in the election for the National Executive seats for Inner London next year. I hope that I can fill a seat left by Kevin as DGS and can add my voice to the Executive to help provide the strengthened leadership that we need to defend teachers and education after the General Election.
Martin Powell-Davies
With 3028 first preference votes, I was fourth of the six candidates, a creditable performance for a campaign without the support of one of the blocs within the Union and an execellent figure compared to the number of nominations I received.
I hope that the votes show that there are many NUT members looking for a campaigning Union - one that acts together to defend members from the attacks we face, and one prepared to take national action on workload. The Union urgently needs to take that united stand - or see even more fragmentation of education and further isolation and division of teachers and schools.
I hope that the support for a determined stand will also be shown in the elections for Deputy General Secretary through the election of Kevin Courtney. I am only disappointed that I cannot be there as a National Officer to give Kevin the backing that he will need.
I do, however, already have two nominations to stand in the election for the National Executive seats for Inner London next year. I hope that I can fill a seat left by Kevin as DGS and can add my voice to the Executive to help provide the strengthened leadership that we need to defend teachers and education after the General Election.
Martin Powell-Davies
Monday, 9 November 2009
Coalition to stand general election candidates
Teachers and trade unionists know that all of the main parties offer a similar diet of cuts and attacks on public sector jobs, pensions and services. I have been a long supporter of campaigns for trade unionists to offer a clear alternative to voters by backing their own candidates in local and national elections - and to stop that vacuum being filled by the racist BNP instead.
An important step forward was announced at a conference hosted by the RMT this weekend. RMT General Secretary, Bob Crow, was one of those giving his personal backing to the coalition that hs been launched to stand trade union and socialist candidiates in the general election. As a minimum, it hopes to stand against as many current ministers as possible as a federal coalition under a common name, organised through a steering commitee of participating organisations and trade unionists.
If you want to get involved, contact the coalition on electioncoalition@btinternet.com
Martin
An important step forward was announced at a conference hosted by the RMT this weekend. RMT General Secretary, Bob Crow, was one of those giving his personal backing to the coalition that hs been launched to stand trade union and socialist candidiates in the general election. As a minimum, it hopes to stand against as many current ministers as possible as a federal coalition under a common name, organised through a steering commitee of participating organisations and trade unionists.
If you want to get involved, contact the coalition on electioncoalition@btinternet.com
Martin
Wednesday, 4 November 2009
Urge your colleagues to vote!
Campaign supporters around England and Wales have reported that it has taken some time for ballot papers for the National Officers election to reach some home addresses - but most NUT members now seem to have received them.
Unfortunately, most NUT members won't actually get round to sending their votes back. In the last National Officers' election, less than 10% of members voted. Some teachers may be too ground down by workload, some may not see why voting can make a difference, some may just have lost it amongst all the rest of our teachers' paperwork!
But a determined national leadership CAN make a difference - as to whether we take national action on workload; as to whether we are ready to defend our jobs, pensions and services from the attacks that will follow the General Election.
That's why the covering letter with our campaign mailing stated "these elections matter to you". That' why we would urge every teacher to remind their colleagues to vote - and to vote POWELL-DAVIES 1.
Unfortunately, most NUT members won't actually get round to sending their votes back. In the last National Officers' election, less than 10% of members voted. Some teachers may be too ground down by workload, some may not see why voting can make a difference, some may just have lost it amongst all the rest of our teachers' paperwork!
But a determined national leadership CAN make a difference - as to whether we take national action on workload; as to whether we are ready to defend our jobs, pensions and services from the attacks that will follow the General Election.
That's why the covering letter with our campaign mailing stated "these elections matter to you". That' why we would urge every teacher to remind their colleagues to vote - and to vote POWELL-DAVIES 1.
Monday, 2 November 2009
Vote to support a boycott of SATs
From Monday, NUT members in primary schools will be receiving an indicative ballot paper calling on them to support a boycott of SATs. Teachers should vote YES!
The educational argumnets against SATs are overwhelming. The recent Cambridge Primary Review was just the latest academic study to call for an end to a testing regime that narrows the curriculum and drives out enjoyment from teaching and learning.
A school's league table position and OFSTED grading, as well as teachers' individual pay and performance management, are all tied to SATs results. That's why teachers are forced to 'teach to the test' to make sure that Government targets are reached.
But securing a particular level in a narrow SATS test or a particular league table position gives only a limited - and often inaccurate - picture of a child's abilities - and a school's success. Teachers need to make clear that education would be much improved by abolishing SATS in England.
There will be colleagues that are worried about what teaching without SATS would be like - and whether it might be replaced by an assessment scheme like APP that could mean even greater teacher workload. But SATS are a key part of the bullying machinery that drives so much of our workload. We must fight to abolish SATS - and then demand alternative assessment schemes that can reduce teacher workload too.
It's taken too long since Annual Conference took the decision last Easter to launch a boycott for a ballot to be issued. But now the papers are out, even if only indicative at this stage, let's make sure teachers vote to support a boycott!
The educational argumnets against SATs are overwhelming. The recent Cambridge Primary Review was just the latest academic study to call for an end to a testing regime that narrows the curriculum and drives out enjoyment from teaching and learning.
A school's league table position and OFSTED grading, as well as teachers' individual pay and performance management, are all tied to SATs results. That's why teachers are forced to 'teach to the test' to make sure that Government targets are reached.
But securing a particular level in a narrow SATS test or a particular league table position gives only a limited - and often inaccurate - picture of a child's abilities - and a school's success. Teachers need to make clear that education would be much improved by abolishing SATS in England.
There will be colleagues that are worried about what teaching without SATS would be like - and whether it might be replaced by an assessment scheme like APP that could mean even greater teacher workload. But SATS are a key part of the bullying machinery that drives so much of our workload. We must fight to abolish SATS - and then demand alternative assessment schemes that can reduce teacher workload too.
It's taken too long since Annual Conference took the decision last Easter to launch a boycott for a ballot to be issued. But now the papers are out, even if only indicative at this stage, let's make sure teachers vote to support a boycott!
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