Conference 2014

Over this weekend the NUT has had its annual conference, this time taking place in my home town of Brighton.

I cannot in a short report do justice to the diversity and quality of motions, speeches and debates that have taken place but I will highlight a few of the issues that were discussed.

In my opinion the key debate of the weekend was over a priority motion put forward by the Executive on the current ongoing industrial action campaign. While rightly highlighting the need to continue that campaign because as we know the attacks on teachers’ pensions, pay and working conditions still drive our colleagues out of the profession, I along with many others did not believe it was sufficient.  

An amendment to this motion was put together by the Local Associations for National Action Campaign and proposed by General Secretary Candidate Martin Powell-Davies.

It attempted to get the union to commit to a very clear set of demands for our campaign – end performance related pay, £2000 pay rise for all teacher scales and a reduction in teacher workload. Alongside this the union was to be committed to a clear plan of industrial action in the autumn so the Government would realise that they will have to talk and grant concessions to avoid the disruption. Unfortunately this amendment wasn’t passed – around 2/3 against to 1/3 for but it was clear that a large number of delegates think this clarity is important in motivating members to take further strike action in the current dispute.

The NUT is however still clear that the campaign will continue and that industrial action is likely in late June. This may move to early July to co-inside with possible industrial action by school support staff, NHS workers, council workers and more over the pay freeze. We also agreed to continue the successful Stand Up for Education campaign which reaches out to parents and the public to explain why the privatisation and de-professionalisation of education will damage the life chances of children in the long term.

An important debate and fringe meeting also took place on how we achieve one union for all teachers. It certainly seems to me that voices in the union arguing against this necessary step are growing weaker and votes overwhelming in favour of unity went through. While the NASUWT leadership appear to want to continue to distance themselves of the possibility of merging the situation seems more favourable with the ATL and I hope I will be able to help support Professional Unity to create a strong combative union.

A great speech was made by a delegate from my own Lewes Association on supply teachers and how these members of the teacher profession were the first to be privatised and subject to a race to the bottom in terms and conditions. She described how pay has fallen well below £100 a day for many experienced teachers who can also not access, sick pay, holiday pay or the pension scheme. The union has taken up more campaigning on supply teacher recently but more needs to be done to work on behalf of these members suffering the sharp end of the market.

I can’t hope to do justice to the contributions on so many subjects, early years education, Palestine, OFSTED, child poverty and many more. I will finish by commending the delegate moving the motion on Transgender rights who powerfully explained not only how discriminated against many trans-people are but also how we can work to improve this. I am pleased to say the motion received massive support from delegates when it was passed.