Teachers will have returned from the summer break hoping for news that the Government has been forced to step back. However, few will be that surprised to hear that the summer's ‘negotiations’ have been a sham. It seems that Ministers are determined to impose an artificial cost-ceiling on pensions schemes that leaves no room for any genuine negotiation.
The Government still wants to make us work longer, to pay in more and then to get less pension when we eventually retire. They have even announced their proposals for how much more teachers will have to pay if they succeed in bringing in the first phase of increased contributions next April.
Anyone earning a full-time salary of more than £40,000 would have to pay 8.0% of their salary towards pensions - compared to 6.4% now. But linking contribution levels to full-time equivalent earnings will particularly penalise part-time staff and Inner London staff who get paid more to offset the high cost of living in the capital.
The Government were rocked by the strength of our action on June 30 - and the extent of public support - but they won’t give in easily. That's because they are on a mission to transfer wealth from working families to the rich, to cheapen the costs of pensions for the benefit of their big business friends that want to take over privatised services - including the new ‘free schools’.
But as the mass petition being launched by seven education unions makes clear, we completely reject the Government's claim that our pensions are unaffordable and a drain on taxpayers.
No, who's draining away our resources? - it's those who wreck the economy and then expect us to bail them out, the big businesses who won't pay their taxes and even have the cheek to object to the 50p tax rate - it's certainly not the dedicated staff providing vital public services.
Monday, 12 September 2011
Sunday, 11 September 2011
Speech to NSSN Rally
For a report of the NSSN rally and lobby of the TUC, visit http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/12744/12-09-2011/nssn-calls-on-tuc-to-open-the-floodgates-of-mass-action
I must start by bringing the apologies of Nina Franklin, the NUT’s National President, who very much wanted to be at today’s Rally, but has had a pressing family commitment today.
I’m proud to speak in Nina’s place – and I’m certainly proud of the tens of thousands of NUT members who, on June 30, answered the Government’s attacks on our pensions with the argument that they can’t ignore – co-ordinated strike action.
Those teachers will have returned from the summer break hoping for news that the Government has stepped back – but few will be too surprised to hear that the summer’s negotiations have been a sham. It seems that Ministers are determined to impose an artificial cost-ceiling on schemes that leaves no room for any genuine negotiation.
That’s because this Government is on a mission – on a mission to transfer wealth from working people to the rich, to cheapen the costs of pensions for the benefit of their big business friends that want to take over privatised schools and services.
But as the mass petition being launched by seven education unions makes clear, we completely reject the Government’s claim that our pensions are unaffordable and a drain on taxpayers.
No, who’s draining away our resources? – it’s those who wreck the economy and then expect us to bail them out, the big businesses who won’t pay their taxes and even have the cheek to object to the 50p tax rate – it’s certainly not the dedicated staff providing vital public services.
But today we are serving a warning on this Government – and calling on the TUC Congress next week to do the same. If you want to refuse to retreat – on your heads be it!
Because June 30 didn’t just raise the confidence of those who took strike action, it also raised the sights of millions more workers who wanted to know why they weren’t standing up for themselves too! It raised the pressure on every union leader that was still to declare for action to come on board as well – and that pressure is having an effect!
ATL and NUT are ready to act again. But, we already know that the UCAC teachers union in Wales is opening a ballot for action in September – so are the EiS in Scotland - and so are the NAHT Headteachers’ union.
Then, on Friday, we heard the welcome news from the Executive of the remaining classroom teachers’ union, the NASUWT, that they will also be balloting for action this term.
While we wait for those ballots to take place, those unions will also be working together to build a mass Lobby of Parliament on Wednesday October 26.
I hope that there will also be agreement that there will be a joint demonstration before the Lobby so that trade unionists can march together to show that we are giving the Government one last chance – or we strike in November!
So urgent joint staff meetings need to be called in every school – yes to sign the petition but, above all, to convince colleagues in the NASUWT and other unions to vote for action.
Let’s hope that those ballots can include GMB, UNISON and UNITE. Because, if teaching unions are getting ready to strike together – then so should support staff colleagues too!
Of course, co-ordination between a range of unions is never straightforward – and strike action may have to be on a day later in November than first planned – but there must be no question of any further delay – and no excuse for any union to avoid co-ordinating action with others.
Let’s be clear, such a massive show of strength from public sector unions will raise the stakes on both sides. So, while we prepare for joint action in November, let’s also plan together for what comes next as well.
That’s why Friday’s NUT Executive didn’t just confirm our plan for the further day of co-ordinated strike action, we also agreed to consider plans for subsequent action, perhaps including rolling action involving every region.
This Government set out to wreck our pensions, wreck our services, ruin our children’s futures – but we can - and we must - force them back.
So let’s find those flags from June 30, dust off the banners, plan together for local joint rallies, levies and collections, leaflets and stalls. Above all, let’s plan together for united strike action – and let’s not step back until we win.
Friday, 9 September 2011
Monday, 5 September 2011
Free Schools - a dangerous experiment in privatisation
Nick Clegg's speech today heralding the opening of the first 24 'Free Schools' could not hide the opposition - even inside his own party - at this dangerous experiment which is designed to further break-up democratically accountable comprehensive schooling.
Building on the misplaced fear of some middle-class parents at the supposed 'failure' of community schools, Gove hopes that they will be encouraged to opt for unaccountable 'free schools'. He hopes this will deal a further blow to elected Local Authority schooling so that it can be replaced with a divisive market-driven system where education businesses control our children's schools - and, sooner or later, are allowed to profit from state-funding as well.
Increased social segregation would be the inevitable result - as would cuts to both the quality of education and conditions for staff as big businesses look to their profit margins.
Some parents and staff may naively believe that 'free schools' provide a way forward - but, as I found in Greenwich last year, the logic of free schools is towards selection and segregation - at other childrens's expense. http://electmartin1.blogspot.com/2010/09/greenwich-free-school-plan-trojan-horse.html
Further information is on the Anti-Academies Alliance website
Building on the misplaced fear of some middle-class parents at the supposed 'failure' of community schools, Gove hopes that they will be encouraged to opt for unaccountable 'free schools'. He hopes this will deal a further blow to elected Local Authority schooling so that it can be replaced with a divisive market-driven system where education businesses control our children's schools - and, sooner or later, are allowed to profit from state-funding as well.
Increased social segregation would be the inevitable result - as would cuts to both the quality of education and conditions for staff as big businesses look to their profit margins.
Some parents and staff may naively believe that 'free schools' provide a way forward - but, as I found in Greenwich last year, the logic of free schools is towards selection and segregation - at other childrens's expense. http://electmartin1.blogspot.com/2010/09/greenwich-free-school-plan-trojan-horse.html
Further information is on the Anti-Academies Alliance website
Saturday, 3 September 2011
Trade unionists and anti-racists hold mass protest against divisive EDL
Thousands of protesters gathered in Whitechapel, East London today to protest against a threatened rally by the far-right English Defence League.
The EDL action was a deliberate provocation to try and stir up division in Tower Hamlets. The far-right has not been able to organise public activity in the borough since the morning when the BNP were driven out of the top of Brick Lane in 1993.
Now, with unemployment and poverty rising, there is again a risk that the EDL and BNP assist the billionaires in driving through their attacks by whipping up racism to divide opposition. But the protest today - and particularly the action taken by the RMT - shows that London trade unionists are not going to allow the Con-Dems nor the racists to divide us.
The RMT made clear that they were not going to compromise safety by transporting the EDL on tubes to Liverpool Street as they originally planned. The Guardian also reports today that "staff at King's Cross station closed the entrance to the tube, preventing the majority of the EDL supporters gathered outside from travelling to the demonstration around Aldgate East tube for around half an hour". http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/sep/03/english-defence-league-london-demonstration
Many protesters, locals and youth took copies of the NSSN leaflet I was distributing publicising next Sunday's Lobby of the TUC and calling on young people to 'get organised and link up with the unions'
One of the attacks on young people's chances is, of course, the cut to the EMA. An article in the TES by an East London Headteacher points out that her school will now be given "a fifth of the money we got for EMA grants. If we award all those who were eligible last year they will get less than £5 a week".
http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6110547&s_cid=twtimes_paper_decisions
These kind of attacks will only be defeated by united mass action - not the divisive racism peddled by the English Defence League which only helps the Con-Dems get away with their cuts.
The EDL action was a deliberate provocation to try and stir up division in Tower Hamlets. The far-right has not been able to organise public activity in the borough since the morning when the BNP were driven out of the top of Brick Lane in 1993.
Now, with unemployment and poverty rising, there is again a risk that the EDL and BNP assist the billionaires in driving through their attacks by whipping up racism to divide opposition. But the protest today - and particularly the action taken by the RMT - shows that London trade unionists are not going to allow the Con-Dems nor the racists to divide us.
The RMT made clear that they were not going to compromise safety by transporting the EDL on tubes to Liverpool Street as they originally planned. The Guardian also reports today that "staff at King's Cross station closed the entrance to the tube, preventing the majority of the EDL supporters gathered outside from travelling to the demonstration around Aldgate East tube for around half an hour". http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/sep/03/english-defence-league-london-demonstration
Many protesters, locals and youth took copies of the NSSN leaflet I was distributing publicising next Sunday's Lobby of the TUC and calling on young people to 'get organised and link up with the unions'
One of the attacks on young people's chances is, of course, the cut to the EMA. An article in the TES by an East London Headteacher points out that her school will now be given "a fifth of the money we got for EMA grants. If we award all those who were eligible last year they will get less than £5 a week".
http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6110547&s_cid=twtimes_paper_decisions
These kind of attacks will only be defeated by united mass action - not the divisive racism peddled by the English Defence League which only helps the Con-Dems get away with their cuts.
Thursday, 1 September 2011
Rally to Defend Pensions, Jobs and Services
RALLY TO DEFEND PENSIONS and to
BUILD UNITED PUBLIC SECTOR STRIKE ACTION
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 1.30 pm
Friends Meeting House, Euston, NW1 2BJ.
Speakers include:
Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary,
Mark Serwotka, PCS General Secretary,
On June 30, hundreds of thousands of teachers, lecturers and civil servants took bold action to defend our pensions against Con-Dem cuts.
Our action was a magnificent show of strength - but we all knew that one-day's strike would not be enough on its own to win.
That's why the NUT and other unions are preparing for further action this November - but, this time, we want even more unions to be taking action alongside us.
The TUC Congress - bringing together all of Britain's public and private-sector unions - is meeting in London from September 12 -14. That Congress needs to respond to the savage cuts to pensions, jobs and services by agreeing to co-ordinate the widest possible industrial action to force this Government to retreat.
The TUC needs to take a fighting lead. That will be the message from a Rally and Lobby being organised on Sunday September 11th by the National Shop Stewards Network, the network founded with the help of the RMT union in 2007 and now supported by other national unions.
Sunday's Rally in Friends Meeting Hose, Euston, assembling at 1.30pm, will be just what is needed to galvanise teachers for the strike action we need to prepare later this term.
The Rally will be followed by a Lobby of the TUC where the NSSN will hand in a petition calling on the TUC "to call a one-day strike of all public sector unions as the next step in this struggle". The petition can be signed online on http://www.shopstewards.net/sign.htm
Come along with your colleagues and listen to Bob Crow (General Secretary, RMT), Mark Serwotka (General Secretary, PCS), Nina Franklin (National President, NUT) - and join in the discussion and debate about how we can defeat these Con-Dem cuts.
NUT Elections 2012-14
On June 30, NUT members across Inner London - and beyond - showed their determination to stand up to Government attacks. That determination will need to be repeated this term as we continue to build our action to defend teachers’ pensions.
Further campaigns to oppose cuts, privatisation, excessive workload and the coming threat of even harsher performance management and observation regimes will also have to be organised if we are to successfully defend teachers and education.
It is against this background that NUT members have an opportunity to vote for National Officers and National Executive members that can best lead the Union during the struggles that will face us from 2012-2014.
In 2009, I was pleased to stand in the election for Vice-President election and develop discussion about how we build national action - action that we are now taking in defence of teachers’ pensions. Then, following Kevin Courtney’s election as Deputy General Secretary, I was able to stand - and be elected - to become a member of the NUT National Executive for the Inner London District. I would certainly hope to be able to continue in that role following the 2012 elections to the National Executive.
I hope that my record of building the Union, supporting members and associations, contributing to and leading campaigns - both before and since being elected to the NUT National Executive - will be recognised by NUT members and Inner London Divisions.
I hope that Inner London NUT Divisions will be willing to nominate myself – and Alex Kenny – for re-election to the National Executive. Nominations close on January 11 2012.
Associations are able to nominate candidates for both National Officers and National Executive members at a quorate General Meeting or by a ballot of members.
Nominations for National Officers have to be submitted before the end of September 2011. I will be recommending to Lewisham Association that we support:
Further campaigns to oppose cuts, privatisation, excessive workload and the coming threat of even harsher performance management and observation regimes will also have to be organised if we are to successfully defend teachers and education.
It is against this background that NUT members have an opportunity to vote for National Officers and National Executive members that can best lead the Union during the struggles that will face us from 2012-2014.
In 2009, I was pleased to stand in the election for Vice-President election and develop discussion about how we build national action - action that we are now taking in defence of teachers’ pensions. Then, following Kevin Courtney’s election as Deputy General Secretary, I was able to stand - and be elected - to become a member of the NUT National Executive for the Inner London District. I would certainly hope to be able to continue in that role following the 2012 elections to the National Executive.
I hope that my record of building the Union, supporting members and associations, contributing to and leading campaigns - both before and since being elected to the NUT National Executive - will be recognised by NUT members and Inner London Divisions.
I hope that Inner London NUT Divisions will be willing to nominate myself – and Alex Kenny – for re-election to the National Executive. Nominations close on January 11 2012.
Associations are able to nominate candidates for both National Officers and National Executive members at a quorate General Meeting or by a ballot of members.
Nominations for National Officers have to be submitted before the end of September 2011. I will be recommending to Lewisham Association that we support:
§ Max Hyde and Philipa Harvey for Vice-President
§ Ian Murch for Treasurer
§ Alyson Palmer for Examiner of Accounts
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