NATIONAL UNION of TEACHERS

NATIONAL EXECUTIVE REPORT

SEPTEMBER 2008.

I hope all members and officers have had a good break and are looking forward to the new academic year. It is likely to be a year of challenges for the NUT.

The September cycle of meetings is dominated by preparation for TUC – a full report of this will be circulated by the National Union in the next few weeks.

You may have seen in the press that the National Executive agreed unanimously to ballot members during this term as part of our pay campaign. This ballot will ask members to consider unsustained, discontinuous strike action!

In addition the NUT has submitted further evidence to the STRB regarding pay and Conditions from Sept 2009. The STRB has a new chair who informed all parties that the pay award from Sept 2009 would be 2.3% as already agreed and that no further evidence was needed. The NUT immediately challenged this and evidence will be taken, but what does this tell us about the independence of the STRB!

Our submission is evidence based and relies on a new report from the Income Data Service which not only shows teachers pay falling further behind comparable private salaries, but also falling behind comparable public pay levels. With inflation running higher than ever many teachers will face serious hardship if we cannot improve pay levels.

The STRB will also be examining:

• SEN allowances – the NUT argues that there should be a widening of payments and an end to the ‘wholly or mainly’ clause which is being used to deny teachers this allowance.
• PRUs – the NUT is arguing that PRUs should be designated as schools in order for teachers in them to get all the rights and protection of the Pay and Conditions document. Currently they are treated as unattached teachers as PRUs have no governing body and thus lose out.
• Excellent teachers – the NUT does not agree with the principle of ‘Excellent Teacher Status’ , and given how few there are not many other people do either, but as they exist they must be treated fairly in terms of pay and conditions.
• Professional duties – the NUT wants to see a balance between protection and prescription. Too vague and workload increases, but no one wants to see teachers professionalism dictated from the centre.
• Leadership – the NUT does not wish to see any major changes to the structure of the Leadership pay scale or to the principles behind it. However, Federations and Executive Head posts need to be dealt with as they are becoming all too common.
• Dave Lyons (National Executive Member)

• Tel: 01538371320  Email: lyons265@btinternet.com

NATIONAL UNION of TEACHERS

NATIONAL EXECUTIVE REPORT

June 2008.

The National Executive attended a comprehensive briefing on ‘School Organisation & Reorganisation’ relating to academies and foundation schools with charitable trusts. This was very useful, the papers are on HEARTH, but I also have copies if any officer wants to read through them.

The National Executive agreed timetables for a series of national officers’ elections; this includes the General Secretary elections which will take place between January 2009 and June 2009 and the Deputy General Secretary elections which will take place between September 2009 and January 2010.

The National Executive also agreed to review the NUT protocol on Policing in schools and from September 2008 it is hoped to produce a ‘diary’ of regular tasks to support local officers in their work.

The decision on the timing of the ballot of members over pay & workload will be taken in July. Few will need reminding that inflation, however you measure it, is high and likely to go up rather than down. It has been suggested that fuel prices may rise a further 40% by Christmas; this will have huge impact on school budgets and will result in teacher job losses. This has resulted in a series of letters between the Bank of England and the Government. The Government has blamed world economic conditions rather than their policies, although they took credit when the world economic situation was in their favour. The Government continues to urge wage restraint, but of course the tanker drivers have just received 14% over two years. Figures show that the average wage of tanker drivers is £35000 with teachers at £34000, although most earn much less. The independent Bank of England may raise interest rates further to cap inflation, this will be a further hit against the government already reeling at the polls and facing an election soon. The fact is teachers lifestyles are being hit and Government policy must change.

Next week the STRB is due to respond to the NUT request to use the ‘trigger mechanism’ to review current pay levels. It is difficult to gauge how they will respond given the amount of Government pressure they will face, but it will be a sign of how truly independent they are.

The Division Secretaries briefing was seen as a great success, with much positive feedback. A report is due which will include an action plan. The TUC backed Lobby of Parliament on June 9^th also had impact with a further 15 MPs signing the Early Day Motion on teachers pay brining the total to 81.

The recent Government threat to close 638 ‘failing’ schools is a disgrace. 75% of schools named have an OFSTED grade of Satisfactory or better, 16 are Outstanding! The majority have positive Contextual Value and of course 26 are already Academies. 33 of the named schools are in Kent which still has selection and Grammar schools. The NUT has no intention of allowing the Government get away with this disgusting tactic.

Dave Lyons (National Executive Member)

Tel: 01538371320  Email: lyons265@btinternet.com