Motions passed at General Meetings and the AGM
General Meeting 27th June 2017
A General Election Result and Further Cuts Campaign Islington NUT believes the outcome of the general election shows there is huge backing for social justice and anti-austerity policies in this country. The proposed deal for a minority government supported by the DUP is a deal with a homophobic, anti-choice and bigoted organisation whose views are rejected by the majority of the population in this country and are at odds with the ethos and policies of our union. We note the excellent role the NUT played in the election campaign, along with parents’ organisations and others, and believe it played a key role in shaping the campaign against austerity. We agree to send a message to Jeremy Corbyn and Emily Thornbury thanking them for putting education at the forefront of their campaigns. We further agree to: 1. Congratulate the NUT on the role it played in the campaign with evidence showing large numbers of people changed their voting intentions because of it. 2. Continue working with Fair Funding for All Schools and other parent organisations to encourage more parental involvement in our area and to consider what campaigning activities we can organise this term. 3.Call upon the national union to continue to work to expand the campaign against cuts, and against SATs, and other regressive polices such as the re-introduction of grammar schools. 4. Back action in any school or team threatened by cuts. 5. Support the London demonstration called for Sunday 16th July and encourage all members to attend. 6. Work with sister unions and parent organisations and others to organise a national demonstration against education cuts in the autumn term. 7. Ask the executive to consider taking national strike action in the autumn term alongside or in addition to such a demonstration. 8. We welcome the formation of the Islington Parents fair funding for schools group and agree to support its activities.
Democratic Unionist Party Islington NUT is appalled by the proposed deal being arranged between the Tory party and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) in order for them to form a minority government. We note that the DUP:
We recognise that such views are at odds with the ethos and policies of our union and we firmly oppose them.
Austerity Fight Film ITA notes that Phil Maxwell, a previous member at C & I, is making a feature length documentary film about campaigns against austerity. The film will be premiered at the East End Film festival in London this year. The film will aim to give a voice to those who are not normally heard including those who are suffering from austerity and are actively campaigning against it. NUT members have been interviewed for the film. ITA welcomes the Austerity Fight film and agrees to donate £100 towards its production.
Grenfell Fire Islington NUT believes that the Grenfell Tower fire is not a “failure of the state” (T.May) but a failure of the government and ruling party to take its responsibility for the care and safety of all citizens seriously. In particular they have
Those elements of the emergency services that they have not managed to cut responded heroically; and communities across London have shown a human solidarity that puts the government to shame. We support the call for:
We further recognise that this government will do only as much as it is forced to do on this matter and as little as it can get away with and that deregulation in the interests of cutting costs is its default position. We resolve to :
Finsbury Park Terorist Attack Islington NUT sends its support and condolences to our Muslim brothers and sisters attacked in Finsbury Park last night. This was an Islamophobic terrorist attack, designed to inflict maximum harm and fear among Muslims not just in Islington but throughout the UK. It was aimed at dividing our community at a time when we need to be united against racism, war and austerity. Islington NUT stands in solidarity with those killed or injured in last night's attack and with all their friends and relatives. We treasure our Muslim pupils,parents and teachers in Islington and will do everything in our power to support and defend them.
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General Meeting 9th May 2017
Motion on Primary Testing ITA fully supports the Union’s policy objective to bring about change in the system of primary assessment and the removal of SATs and high stakes testing. We commend the work done by all those involved in The More Than a Score coalition and the work they have done on promoting an alternative to the current assessment system We believe that the reforms announced by the current government, although a step in the right direction, do not significantly change the experience of children and teachers, or address the profession’s fundamental concerns. We therefore fully support the decision taken by delegates at the unions Easter conference to conduct an internal NUT ballot of all primary members during the Autumn term to ascertain the levels of commitment for members in refusing to administer KS2 tests and if there is sufficient support shown ballot members as appropriate for a boycott of the 2018 SATs. Clean Energy Islington NUT notes that 67 local authorities have pledged to take measures to use 100% clean energy by 2050. We congratulate Islington for being one of these and resolve to write to the lead councillor on the environment asking: 1. for an outline of the council’s plans to achieve this, particularly as they apply to schools 2. for the council to disinvest from any remaining fossil fuel stocks held by the LA pension fund or other investments. We agree to support the "Fossil free Islington" event at the Town Hall on Saturday 13th May to recognise the positive steps taken so far and urge their acceleration. We further agree to pass this motion on to the Trades Council and circulate to other LA unions and local MPs. CND Islington NUT is shocked by the government's announcement that it would make first use of nuclear weapons in some circumstances. We recognise that this would be a crime against humanity for which there can be no justification. We therefore resolve to 1. Re-affiliate to the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (at a cost of £25). 2. Put a link to their peace education department on our website and alert our members to it by email. Emergency resolution on EIS dispute. ITA Agrees to send a message of support to the EIS in their current dispute and asks the committee to consider making a donation to their strike fund. |
General Meeting 22nd September 2016
London Recruits ITA notes that a film is now being planned telling the story of the London Recruits. These were brave women and men who risked their lives in solidarity with the liberation struggle. Many were trade unionists, including members of the NUT. At a time when ANC membership was banned, its activists executed or imprisoned, people travelled to South Africa disguised as honeymooning couples, tourists and business trippers to carry out clandestine missions. From 1969, under the noses of the police, the recruits unfurled banners from landmarks, exploded home-made leaflet bombs at packed train stations and played rousing speeches to crowds from improvised sound systems, signaling to thousands of Africans living under the regime that the struggle for freedom was very much alive. ITA agrees to donate £100 towards the making of the film so that now, nearly 50 years on, the legacy of their work can be celebrated on film. Political Events
Islington NUT resolves: 1. To support the “unwelcome the Tories” protest called by the People’s Assembly at the Tory Party conference in Birmingham on Sunday 2 October and contribute £100 to the cost of hiring a coach from Islington to the demonstration and pay for coach tickets for those who wish to attend. 2. To support and send up to six delegates to the Stand up to Racism national conference on 8 October which will be addressed by Jeremy Corbyn and our General Secretary, Kevin Courtney, among other speakers. 3. To support and send up to six delegates to Unite the Resistance’s Organising to Win :Rebuilding Our Unions, Fighting Austerity conference on Saturday 12 November.
Marx Memorial Library ITA notes: · That the Marx Memorial Library has been a home for radical thought and activity since 1933 · That it holds very valuable historical archives and collections, including material about the Spanish Civil War unavailable anywhere else · That the Library relies entirely on personal and organisational donations from individuals and groups, mainly trade unions We believe; · That it is crucial to have spaces such as the Library where working people can discover their history and organise present struggles · That actively involving ourselves in the work and activity of the Library will be mutually beneficial and will help to link up our battles with those of others.
ITA therefore resolves; · To affiliate to the Library at a cost of £25.00 per year · To make a one off donation of £50 · To circulate to our members information about the Library and it's programme of events and activities
Cable Street 80 i. ITA notes that October 2016 will mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Cable Street when the people of East London won a crucial victory over Sir Oswald Mosley’s British Union of Fascists. Trade unionists played a significant role in the Battle on that day and continue to play a key role in the urgent fight against fascism and all forms of racism today. The Cable Street 80 committee have called on trade unionists to support a march and rally in East London on Sunday October 9th. This event will honour the victory in 1936, and express our commitment to combating those who emulate Mosley’s movement today. ITA agrees to support this march and rally by urging our members to join this march, and by donating £100 towards the costs of the event.
NUT campaign on funding and the White Paper ITA notes that the threat posed to our pay and conditions has not been diminished by the change of Prime Minister and Education Secretary. In fact we believe that with the possible reintroduction of grammar schools they are in even more danger. We further note that the strike action taken by Islington members in July led to the full closure of 31 schools, with 14 others being closed to more than 50% of pupils. This strike action was taken by members with the clear message that it was not to be a one day protest and that it would be followed by further action in the autumn term. We are therefore disappointed to hear that the National Executive has not named any dates for strike action so far this term. Whilst we recognise that we have not as yet got agreement from other educational unions to join us we believe that it is vital that we build on the strike action taken in July if we are to defend our pay and conditions of service, even if this means acting alone. We believe that although the government is in disarray after the EU referendum, in education as well as broader policy, they are · certain to press ahead with funding reductions, especially for urban schools · trying to stick to the assessment system that was such a mess this year that our past strikes and broader campaigning have been instrumental in recent government retreats · the STPCD decision not to make it possible to move teachers back down the pay scale · the partial climb down on forced academisation that the government's proposal to re-establish selection at 11 · is a massive own goal on their part · will enable us to build a very broad united front to mobilise opposition in our communities and defeat it in Parliament that for our campaigns on these matters to have the maximum impact we need · the strongest possible grassroots action in all our schools, not only mobilising members but also TAs and their unions along with parents and the wider community · to link up with others taking action on the same issues, like the NAHT on assessment, or similar issues, like the Junior Doctors on cuts and enforced changes in contract. · to take full advantage of the willingness of the new Labour leadership and front bench to support us unambiguously We therefore resolve 1. to produce a leaflet for parents making our case in sharp, clear language. 2. to organise as many school based union group meetings as we can this term so that members are fully up to speed and prepared to campaign. 3. to support school union groups that feel confident enough to organise meetings for parents so we can build supportive parent networks. 4. to ask Islington North and South Labour Parties to take a speaker from the NUT on our campaigns this term. 5. to organise three successive street stalls this term: on grammar schools, assessment and (once the proposal is clear) funding. 6. to campaign for the maximum support and turn out for the Assessment Conference in December and the strongest possible turn out in the indicative ballot this term. |
General Meeting 28th June 2016
1) Motion on Orlando ITA is appalled at the tragedy which has unfolded in Orlando following the massacre by a lone gunman at a gay nightclub. ITA sends its heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of those who have been affected. We believe that the hatred shown by the attacker has no place in a civilised society. Schools and education have a significant role in preventing the development of hatred towards LGBT+ communities. This tragedy underlines the need for schools to continue to play their part in fighting intolerance. We stand in solidarity with the gay community in Orlando and internationally who have been targeted in this horrendous way. We also condemn the way in which some sections of US society including Donald Trump tried to divert the blame to Muslims. We oppose homophobia, transphobia, Islamophobia and racism in all its forms.
2) Motion on the Voice of Gaza Islington Teachers Association agrees to donate £200 to the Voice of Gaza, an after-school organisation set up by fellow teachers to improve the quality of education to Gazan students who live under permanent occupation. 3) Emergency Motion on Jeremy Corbyn ITA sends a message of solidarity to Jeremy Corbyn in the light of his long standing support for Islington NUT and local schools. His key policies of support for refugees; opposition to neo-liberalism and austerity; and opposition to illegal wars are all policies supported by the ITA and the national union. |
General Meeting 24th February 2016
1. Elections for vacant officer posts: Vice-President - RA Equalities - RA Young Teachers - NI International Solidarity - DR Supply Teachers - DG 2. Amendments to motion to Easter 2016 NUT Conference: Motion 9 Workload, Teacher Shortage and Funding Add two
new paragraphs before "Conference instructs the executive". Add two new points after "Conference instructs the executive to: d)promote
the People's Assembly demonstration to members and local associations,urging
them to build for the best possible turnout by NUT members
Motion 33 Teaching by Numbers After “Conference instructs the executive to:” add new point g g) commission as a matter of urgency - working with supportive experts - a series of short videos, each less than 5 minutes in length, hosted on the NUT website and suitable for showing in school union meetings which each target and debunk one of the many myths or lies around data in education. These could include, for example: “The myth of linear progress”; “Blue, Green: are the Raise Online labels really significant?” and many others.
Motion 16 Teacher Shortage Add at the end of first paragraph ‘and therefore damaging the education of our young people.’ Add new paragraph 2 and 3: Conference notes that increasing numbers of teachers are leaving the profession citing excessive workload, and the lack of trust that underlies the constant surveillance and monitoring of teachers, and prevents them from exercising professional judgement. Conference further notes that having access to genuinely affordable housing, whether to buy or rent, is increasingly difficult for many teachers, especially in the south east of England. Add new paragraph 5: Conference condemns existing and planned cuts in education spending, which are increasingly being used to hide the teacher shortage, while in fact restricting the curriculum, cutting support from the most vulnerable students and leading to an unsustainable workload for teachers and support staff. After “Conference instructs the executive to:” In point 1 delete 'as the main two' and replace with ' as two of the main' Add new action point 4: Campaign with parents, students, teacher, headteacher and support staff trade unions, governors, local and national politicians and others to oppose cuts in education funding, and to develop a more humane and sustainable education system which allows all students to flourish. Motion 20 Education Funding Add new paragraph 7: Conference further notes that proposals for so called ‘fair funding’ are anything but fair, and would, if implemented, devastate education in areas such as London that have made significant progress and enhanced students’ life chances in recent years as a result of increased funding, schools working together and hard work by teachers and support staff. Add new paragraph before “Conference instructs the Executive:” Conference recognises that a campaign to fight education cuts of any kind has the potential to be huge if it reaches beyond teacher and support staff trade unions to involve headteachers, parents, students, governors, local and national politicians and others, and engages with schools at a local level. Add new action point 4 and renumber: 4. Encourage local Associations and Divisions to work with local schools and all those committed to defending education to build campaigns against cuts in educational funding. 3. Motions. The meeting agreed to take two emergency motions (a) Heathrow 13 ITA agrees to send a message of support to the Heathrow 13. (b) Stand up to racism public meeting and demonstration. ITA congratulates Stand Up To Racism for calling a public meeting at Islington Town Hall on Monday 29th February as part of the build up to the National Demonstration against racism and fascism in London on 19th March.
ITA notes that the NUT Deputy General Secretary will be among the speakers at this meeting and that the meeting will be chaired by an Islington ITA member.
At a time when racist attacks are continuing and racist press coverage
against refugees and migrants is widespread, teachers can play a vital role in
challenging prejudiced attitudes and fostering positive relations within school
communities.
ITA therefore encourages members to attend this meeting and requests the ITA committee to consider donating £100 towards costs of publicity etc for this meeting.
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AGM 24th February 2016
1. Minutes of last AGM agreed with no matters arising. 3. No president installed.(AM on Maternity Leave) 4. Financial report given by TB agreed with no matters arising. 5. H&S report given by PA TB nominated PC and AV . Seconded KM. Passed
unanimously
Add Supply Teacher Officer to rules 6b and 6j |
General Meeting 21st January 2016
1. 2. Nomination and Election of ITA delegates and observers to National Conference 5 nominations had been received for Conference delegates so the following were elected unopposed. Paul Atkin, Tony Buttifint, Dave Gilchrist, Ceinwen Hilton and Ken Muller. There still existed 1 vacancy for a delegate and 2 for observers so nominations for these were sought at the meeting. Michael Shepherd was nominated for delegate. Cat Tookey and Pippa Dowswell were nominated for observers. All three were elected. 3. Prioritisation of Motions for National Conference The meeting agreed to prioritise motions 1. Supply Teachers 16. Climate Change 34. Prevent Strategy 42. Sixth Form College Funding 58 The European Union 75. Fair Pay 4. Motions - The meeting agreed to take emergency motions on (i) Simon O’Hara (ii) Funding Cuts (iii) TUC Week of Action against the Trade Union Bill A) Motion on Simon O’Hara ITA agrees to send a message of solidarity offering its full support to the members at Small Heath School, Birmingham in their fight to get the NUT rep Simon O’Hara reinstated. We believe that Simon’s suspension is an act of trade union victimisation as a result of the leading role he has played on behalf of NUT members in the campaign against academisation and in challenging unreasonable management led initiatives. B) Motion on the TUC week of Action Against the Trade Union Bill ITA notes that the TUC is running a special week of action against the trade union bill in England and Wales from 8th to 14th February. With this government determined to shift the balance of power in the workplace in favour of employers and attempting to get the Trade Union Bill through Parliament with as little scrutiny as possible it is vital that we keep the bill in the public eye and to remind people why unions are so important. ITA agrees to promote and encourage members to take part in the following events: 1) At 12.45pm on Tuesday 9 February, the TUC will be running ‘The Big Workplace Meeting’. The TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady and some very special guests will be broadcasting a short Q&A live into workplace meetings around the country. We encourage schools to organize union meetings in their schools to coincide with this presentation which can be found by going to www.heartunions.org. The event will last for 15 minutes. 2) On Thursday 11 February the TUC is asking every trade union member to do something to make trade unions visible and proud in their community. (Suggestions can be found at www.heartunions.org ) 3) Try to recruit at least one other person to join a union – because together, we are stronger. C) Motion on funding cuts
1. The government are raiding our school budgets
This association notes:
a) that the combination of a “cash-freeze”, and the cut to sixth form funding are already squeezing school budgets across the country;
b) that the government’s proposals for a new National Funding Formula will have the effect of taking money from school budgets in London and redistributing elsewhere.
c) that the new funding system announced by the government will take nearly 13% from local school budgets over the next five years.
We believe that these cuts will have serious effect on education in our local schools.
We note that whilst some areas of the country desperately need more money for education that this should not be done at the expense of other places.
We note that London schools have been well funded because our children need it and the extra money has been spent on supporting the children who need it most. As consequence education in London has been a great success.
We call on all heads, governors, school staff and councillors to come together in a campaign to fight these cuts and to defend education
This association resolves to: i) make it a priority to build a broad-based local campaign against these cuts and to use the NUT’s Manifesto for London’s education in doing this; ii) encourage school groups to build the campaign amongst parents, governors and the local community; iii) seek information from headteachers on the likely impact of these cuts to the budget in their school. iv) support initiatives aimed at building the campaign and challenging the government’s policy such as the meeting on funding called by Catherine West MP and Camden NUT Secretary Andrew Baisley at Room R, Portcullis House at 5.30pm on Wednesday 3rd February v) support the London-wide campaign against education cuts, including plans for a demonstration before the mayoral election. D) Motion on junior doctors and NHS health care students Islington Teachers Association fully supports the strike action currently being taken by junior doctors in defence of their working hours, their pay and the safety of their patients. We also support the protest action by health care students against plans to replace their bursaries with student loans. Aneurin Bevan warned: “The NHS will last as longs there are folk left with the faith left to fight for it”. We recognise that that the doctors and students are fighting not just for themselves but also in defence of our NHS - which Jeremy Hunt and the Tories are intent on dismantling and privatising, if they get their way. We call on Islington teachers to give maximum support to the strikes and protest by junior doctors and health care students and whatever further action they decide to take. We agree: 1. To write to Jeremy Hunt calling on him to stop his attacks on junior doctors and health care students. 2. To send messages of solidarity to both junior doctors and health care students. 3. To make a donation of £100 to the junior doctors’ strike hardship fund.
E) Renewal of Trident missile system Islington NUT
recognises that the pending decision to spend upwards of £100 billion on a
replacement for the Trident missile system is a grotesque waste of resources
and helps make this country a threat to the rest of the world. |
General Meeting 17th November 2015
Paris killings 1) ITA expresses its solidarity and sympathy with the people of Beirut, Baghdad, Kenya and Paris in the wake of Friday's horrific attacks. We reaffirm our support for Stand Up to Racism and our determination to resist all forms of racism and Islamaphobia We condemn the attacks on Jeremy Corbyn for his refusal to join the clamour for escalation of war in the Middle East 2. National Executive election nominations Jess Edwards and Alex Kenny for Inner London positions. Mandy Hudson for Disabled teachers’ Executive seat. Annette Price for LGBT teachers’ Executive seat. 3. NUT national conference motions Prevent Conference notes: i) that there exist long established and robust safeguarding procedures in schools to identify and protect vulnerable children or children at risk from harm. ii) that the Counter Terrorism and Security Act places a statutory duty on schools, colleges and local authorities to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being “drawn into terrorism”; iii) that Prevent training is being carried out in schools and colleges by a range of organisations including local Police Authorities as well as an unregulated range of NGOs and private training companies so as a consequence this training has been very varied in content and practice; iv) that there have been a number of high profile cases where young people have been wrongly referred to the police for comments made during class discussions; v) that this strategy is being implemented against a background of increased attacks on the Muslim community and risks being used to target young Muslim people; vi) the conclusion by David Anderson QC, Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, that, "If the wrong decisions are taken, the new law risks provoking a backlash in affected communities, hardening perceptions of an illiberal or Islamophobic approach, alienating those whose integration into British society is already fragile, and playing into the hands of those who, by peddling a grievance agenda, seek to drive people further towards extremism and terrorism." vii) that the extension of the inspection framework has given Ofsted power to make judgements about whether the curriculum actively promotes the ‘’fundamental British values’’ of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. Conference believes that: a) the statutory duty placed on schools, colleges and local authorities sits alongside a responsibility to ensure a safe space for children young people to explore their relationship with the world around them; b) a key role of teachers and schools is to develop critical thinking skills in children and young people and that teachers should feel able to embrace opportunities to promote such developments within the classroom situation; c) discussion in schools should take place in a spirit of openness and trust, with young people feeling safe in expressing challenge to ideas; d) there is evidence that some of the expectations driven by the Prevent agenda and Ministerial speeches is undermining the confidence of teachers and students to explore and discuss global issues; e) the recommendation in the Bullock Report (1976), “No child should be expected to cast off the language and culture of home as he (or she) crosses the school threshold” is as true today as it was in 1976; f) no student or pupil should fear that the expression of opinion or exploration of ideas within the boundaries of the school’s equality and diversity policy and codes on harassment or abuse, will incur suspicion, reporting or sanction. g) the meaning of “Fundamental British Values” is unclear and contestable and should be replaced with the principles of international human rights, and the values and goals enshrined in the UN convention on the rights of the child. h) there is a danger that implementation of Prevent could worsen relationships between teachers and learners, close down space for open discussion in a safe and secure environment and smother the legitimate expression of political opinion. Conference instructs the Executive to: i) call on the government to withdraw the Prevent strategy in regard to schools and colleges and to involve the profession in developing alternative strategies to safeguard children and identify risks posed to young people. ii) campaign for recognition of the principle that schools and colleges should ensure a safe space for children and young people to explore their relationship with the world around them; iii) draw up guidelines for schools and colleges to address values,community cohesion and the advance of human rights through education. iv) work with other teacher unions, the UCU, NUS, civil liberties groups, faith groups and others. v) Issue further advice to members about Prevent and to support members and associations who raise concerns about the implementation or training where they believe this has: a) breached equality rights and principles b) encouraged the racial profiling of students c) encouraged the targetting or victimisation of students for reason of faith, culture or legitimate political expression; vi) encourage and support members and workplace representatives to monitor how Prevent is being implemented in their school/ college and to take collective steps to challenge and improve policies and reporting/curriculum practices where necessary; vii) work with classroom teachers to develop resources for teachers on teaching about difficult or controversial issues and consider providing CPD on this; viii) continue to inform members about the Union’s position on Prevent through union publications and via the website.
2. Fair pay for individual teachers and for the whole teaching profession Conference recognises the irrefutable evidence that the present Government’s treatment of teachers’ pay has enormously damaged the morale of the profession and is causing an intensifying recruitment and retention crisis. Conference recognises that: A. All teachers have suffered a real terms decline in the value of their take-home pay of approaching 20% at any particular point on the pay scale since the beginning of the Coalition Government, as a result of pay freezes and increased pension contributions. B. In addition, employers are now being encouraged to treat the lower end of the Main Scale, rather than the top of the Upper Pay Spine, as the normal salary for an un-promoted teacher, with the Government seeking to give employers the right to bully teachers into giving up their entitlement to be paid on the Upper Pay Range. C. Some Schools have also used the new opportunity they have been given to end any proper and transparent system of pay points and levels, and are holding increasing numbers of teachers back at salaries well below those that all teachers could previously expect to achieve. Real terms cuts to school budgets are accelerating this trend. D. Meanwhile housing costs accelerate at a rate whereby it is unaffordable for teachers to rent, let alone buy, a house in growing areas of the country. E. As a consequence, teaching is ceasing to be an occupation that will meet the aspirations of a well-qualified graduate. Conference believes that there has to be a new start for teachers’ pay. It therefore instructs the Executive to seek from the Government: 1. An end to the pay freeze and a plan to restore, over a fixed period of time, the real value of all teachers’ salaries; 2. The restoration of mandatory pay scales and responsibility payments for all teachers whose employment is publicly funded, including those in academies, free schools and sixth form colleges; 3. The restoration of national pay bargaining; 4. An end to the current system of so-called “performance related pay” that has been so arbitrary and so destructive of teacher morale; and 5. A combination of a living wage and affordable housing that will allow teachers to live in London and the fringe areas, this proposal arising from Union consultation with members in these areas. Conference further instructs the Executive that in addition to putting these proposals to the Government and the School Teachers Review Body it should: i. Seek support for them from all other parties representing England and Wales in Parliament and report to our members on their responses; ii. Involve our members in a campaign to convince the general public that our pay demand is reasonable; iii. If no progress is made in talks with the Government on agreeing and implementing these proposals, campaign for and, when there is the necessary support, ballot for a national campaign of strike and non-strike action, seeking the involvement of other teaching unions and non-teaching unions as appropriate,; iv. target employers, whether they be local authorities, academy chains or individual schools, who produce unreasonable or unfair pay policies or use their policies in unreasonable and unfair ways, including naming and shaming them where necessary v. Give full backing, up to and including strike action, to members where individual employers or schools operate unacceptable pay policies that do not meet the requirements of the NUT checklist; and vi. Continue through our Stand Up For Education and other campaigns to emphasise the negative consequences for the education of children of restrictive and divisive pay policies
3. Climate Change The National Union of Teachers recognises the following 1. Keeping global warming to 1.5 degrees C or below is essential if human civilisation is to be sustained and there is to be a future for our children. 2. Doing so requires sharp cuts in CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions on a very rapid timescale. 3. This requires 75-80% of known fossil fuel reserves to be left in the ground. 4. The technology exists to make a transition to a sustainable carbon neutral society with gains in living standards for the majority of humanity at an annual cost little greater than the current cost of annual fossil fuel subsidies, but this is incompatible with high levels of inequality and a society based on aspiration for luxurious lifestyles. 5. That growth will have to be primarily in those areas of the economy that enable this transition to take place. 6. The world’s wealthiest countries will have to make cuts in emissions of 8-10% a year (on top of those made by exporting manufacturing and related pollution to China and other countries). 7. Governments will have to put our economies on a war footing and take charge of necessary investment in sustainable energy, transport and urban planning because the private sector is not doing what is necessary. 8. This will not happen while the needs of our planet and our civilisation are held to ransom by the short-term profitability of the fossil fuel industries. 9. This has profound implications for the structure and content of our education system, both in terms of content and values. Conference instructs the executive to call for: 1. A national plan for the most rapid possible transition to a carbon zero economy, including an immediate reversal of the current governments withdrawal of support from wind and solar energy. 2. The most rapid possible retrofitting of all school buildings to make them as carbon neutral as possible (as part of a concerted plan for all publically owned buildings). 3. An end to restrictions on solar panels by heritage considerations. 4. A re-examination of the curriculum to put sustainability and the values of a sustainable society at the heart of it. 5. An immediate abandonment on fracking domestically and an embargo on the import of any fracked gas or tar sand oil from any other country. 6. The most rapid possible transfer of fossil fuel subsidies to sustainable energy generation and the phase out of coal power without CCS by 2023. 7. The most rapid possible socialisation of power generation.
Conference further instructs the executive to: 1. Negotiate with DFE on a new curriculum and seek support from other education unions. 2. Convene a working party of all interested teachers to work with relevant campaigns, like FOE, Greenpeace, Campaign against Climate Change, to find all the aspects of the current curriculum that can be developed to draw out a sustainable content and to examine those areas or values that need to be challenged and changed and produce model alternatives; making 2016-17 the year of the Green Curriculum. 3. Work with these campaigns on developing termly themes that link educational content with active citizenship and encourage our members to push them in schools. 4. Encourage union bodies at all levels to support national and local demonstrations and campaigns against fracking and climate change, negotiate with local authorities to make our schools carbon neutral solar power stations and press governing bodies to adopt a green school plan of action. 5. Take this issue up with other unions through the TUC, our international counterparts bilaterally and through Education international, supporting initiatives like the German TUCs Marshal plan for Europe. 6. Affiliate to the campaign against climate change (constitution appended).
4. Supply Teachers Conference reaffirms its support for the continuation of the NUT Teachers Supply Network Conference notes: 1. That supply teachers are on the receiving end of relentless poor publicity and negative judgement from the national media. 2. That the majority of supply teachers are employed by private agencies and are paid well below the Teachers' Pay Scale and are not allowed into the Teachers' Pension Scheme. 3. That supply teachers are increasingly employed on long term contracts with no access to sick pay, maternity pay, holiday pay, and subject to dismissal without notice. Constituting a hidden privatised layer of teachers in our schools 4. That supply teachers have less chance of being employed full time due to prohibitive agency transfer fees. These exorbitant ‘finders’ or introduction fees are charged by agencies, amounting to four or five figures, create a barrier to finding permanent or long-term employment. 5. That agency staff are often required to pay for CPD themselves out of their already unacceptably low pay. 6. That many NQTs work for up to five years as a supply teacher. If they are unable to find a post suitable for induction, they are forced to leave the teaching profession. 7. That there is confusion in some local authorities over the eligibility of agency supply teachers to undertake NQT induction on a long-term cover assignment. 8. The change in agency worker regulations that allow agency workers to break strikes 9. The lobby of teacher supply agencies organised on Oct 26 by the Teacher Supply Network and the NUT.
Conference believes: 1. That the NUT should campaign with local governments to establish a central supply register, publicly accountable, non-profit making, paying to scale, accessing TPS so that schools can hire supply teachers directly based on the Northern Ireland model. 2. This should be a key campaign for the NUT. 3. That divisions and local associations should elect a supply teacher representative. Conference instructs the executive to: 1. Campaign for a central supply register 2. Support members in organising further action around supply such as national and local lobbies of supply agencies. 3. Ensure the NUT provides regular training for supply reps and activists 4. Organise an annual weekend event at Stoke Rochford for supply reps in addition to the Supply Teachers' Conference. 5. Collect, monitor and analyse statistics relating to the number of NQTs registered as supply teachers who leave the profession. 6. Campaign against the excessive introduction fees charged by agencies. 7. Seek clarification at a national level over the position, and entitlement to induction, of supply NQTs employed on long-term cover through agencies. 8. Offer training to caseworkers and supply teacher officers/reps in supporting NQTs working as supply teachers. 9. Encourage local associations to make contact with newly qualified supply teachers to evaluate what support they may need. 10. Offer and promote training to support NQTs who are working as supply teachers.
5. Sixth Form Colleges Conference is alarmed by a report from the Sixth Form Colleges Association (SFCA) that says that government funding cuts will mean that as many as 4 out of 10 Sixth Form Colleges (SFCs) may cease to be financially viable within five years. Conference understands that SFCs have been subjected to budget cuts of around 25% since 2010, Further cuts of around 10% are expected to be announced this year. Conference recognises that the impact of these funding cuts in the SFC sector has been extremely deleterious, with respect to both educational provision to students and members’ workload. For example, the large majority of A-level students are now only studying 3 subjects in their first year, rather than four, which narrows the breadth of their education as well as leading to job losses. As a result of these cuts, many SFCs are struggling to maintain financial viability. Conference is alarmed that the DfE and BIS are carrying out a programme of “area-based reviews” of post-16 provision that will focus on Further Education (FE) and SFCs. The aims of the reviews include moving towards “fewer, often larger, more resilient and efficient providers.” The obvious threat is that this will increase the pressure on FE and sixth form colleges towards merger. This will result in fewer SFCs and worse conditions of service for SFC members. This will also result in worse provision for students; FE colleges and SFCs serve different needs. These reviews are intended to cover every area of the country by March 2016. Conference is concerned that the process has the aim of levelling pay and conditions downwards and is driven by a desire to cut costs rather than improve the quality of education. FE colleges have already been subjected to a succession of cuts and a worsening of pay and conditions. Furthermore, school sixth forms, academies, University Technical Colleges (UTCs) and ‘free’ SFCs are not included in these reviews. Conference is very concerned that the reviews threaten the future of many SFCs. They come in the context of the huge cuts to 16-19 education and the clear danger is that they are a money saving exercise to cover up the damage done already to 16-19 education. Therefore, Conference instructs the Executive to: a. Continue its campaign of opposition to funding cuts to SFCs; b. Make its campaign of opposition to the threat of area-based reviews a strategic priority; c. Spare no effort in publicising widely the negative impact on students’ education of the area based Reviews; d. Consult meaningfully with members in SFCs about national action, up to an including strike action, to campaign against the threat to the SFC sector posed by area-based reviews; e. Support NUT and UCU members, up to sustained strike action, in colleges in which pay and conditions are adversely affected by the outcomes of area-based reviews or in which current pay and conditions are not sustained;; f. Send messages of support to support staff experiencing job losses and changes to their terms and conditions. g. Work with NUS, NAS, ATL, UCU and UNISON to highlight the crisis in the SFC sector.
6) The European Union Conference notes 1. That the government is committed to holding an in/out referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union by the end of 2017. 2. That the referendum will be based on a package of changes to the terms of Britain’s membership negotiated by the Conservative government. Conference believes 1. That we should oppose all forms of racism and attacks on migrants - that our stance should be refugees and migrants are welcome here. 2. That we should stand for internationalism and solidarity with struggles by workers and against all forms injustice across all borders – whether inside and outside the European Union. 3. That the European Union has nothing to do with internationalism, justice or democracy. 4. That the European Union was from its foundation an organisation pushing the agenda of big business across Europe. 5. That with successive treaties and unaccountable new institutions – from the Single European Act to the European Central Bank- the EU has hard wired into its nature the enforcement of neo-liberal policies of privatisation, marketisation and austerity. 6. That vicious racism is built into the foundations of the European Union – with free movement within the EU for those with the right passports being built on murderous racism towards our brothers and sisters from the rest of the world. 7. That any changes Cameron’s government negotiates with the EU will bring more privatisation, marketisation and racism. 8. That Cameron and his government will be campaigning for Britain to stay in the EU on these new terms, and a vote to stay in will strengthen Cameron, Osborne and their racist and austerity agenda. 9. That if progressive forces line up behind Cameron and help him win the referendum they will do a great disservice to working people. 10. That we should recognise the danger of leaving opposition to the European Union, and Cameron’s referendum package, to those motivated only by reactionary “Little England” chauvinism or downright racism – including sections of the Tory right and UKIP. 11. That we should therefore actively seek to work with the widest possible progressive forces to build a different, progressive, anti-racist, internationalist campaign against the EU, against Cameron’s package and for a vote against Britain’s membership of the EU neo-liberal big business club 12. That such a campaign should have as its key themes: No to racism – inside and outside the European Union; Yes to internationalism-solidarity across all borders; Defend public services- no t to privatisation; No to the European Union – Another Europe is Possible. 13. That under no circumstance should such a campaign have any truck with, joint work with or share any platforms with forces which espouse any form of racism – including Ukip. 14. That were such a progressive campaign to be built and were Cameron defeated in his referendum it would be a near fatal blow to his government and would bring nearer the day when it was swept from office. Conference instructs the executive To actively seek out potential allies in the trade union and progressive movements urgently to try to build such a movement
4. Islington Teachers Association elections Dave Gilchrist elected interim President, pending annual branch elections. Mike Govender elected interim Climate Change Officer, pending annual branch elections.
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General Meeting 7th October 2015
A) Supply Teachers
Islington NUT gives its support to the NUT Teachers Supply Network It notes: 1. That supply teachers are on the receiving end of relentless poor publicity and negative judgement from the national media. 2. That the majority of supply teachers are employed by private agencies and are paid well below the Teachers' Pay Scale and are not allowed into the Teachers' Pension Scheme. 3. That supply teachers are increasingly employed on long term contracts with no access to sick pay, maternity pay, holiday pay, and subject to dismissal without notice. Constituting a hidden privatised layer of teachers in our schools 4. That supply teachers have less chance of being employed full time due to prohibitive agency transfer fees. These exorbitant ‘finders’ or introduction fees are charged by agencies, amounting to four or five figures, create a barrier to finding permanent or long term employment. 5. That agency staff are often required to pay for CPD themselves out of their already unacceptably low pay. 6. That many NQTs work for up to five years as a supply teacher. If they are unable to find a post suitable for induction, they are forced to leave the teaching profession. 7. That there is confusion in some local authorities over the eligibility of agency supply teachers to undertake NQT induction on a long term cover assignment. 8. The change in agency worker regulations that allow agency workers to break strikes 9. The lobby of teacher supply agencies organised on Oct 28th by the Teacher Supply Network and the NUT.
ITA believes: 1. That the NUT should campaign with local governments to establish a central supply register, publicly accountable, non-profit making, paying to scale, accessing TPS so that schools can hire supply teachers directly based on the Northern Ireland model. 2. This should be a key campaign for the NUT. 3. That divisions and local associations should elect a supply teacher representative.
ITA calls on the national executive to: 1. Campaign for a central supply register 2. Support members in organising further action around supply such as national and local lobbies of supply agencies. 3. Ensure the NUT provides regular training for supply reps and activists 4. Organise an annual weekend event at Stoke Rochford for supply reps in addition to the Supply Teachers' Conference. 5. Collect, monitor and analyse statistics relating to the number of NQTs registered as supply teachers who leave the profession. 6. Campaign against the excessive introduction fees charged by agencies. 7. Seek clarification at a national level over the position, and entitlement to induction, of supply NQTs employed on long term cover through agencies. 8. Offer training to caseworkers and supply teacher officers/reps in supporting NQTs working as supply teachers. 9. Encourage local associations to make contact with newly qualified supply teachers to evaluate what support they may need. 10. Offer and promote training to support NQTs who are working as supply teachers.
B) National Gallery Dispute
Islington NUT congratulates PCS members at the National Gallery in their tremendous success in protecting terms and conditions at the gallery and in securing the reinstatement of representative Candy Udwin. We note that it took over 100 days of strike action to secure the victory. We agree to send a letter of congratulations and donate £200 towards the strike fund.
C) Labour Party
Islington Teachers Association notes: 1) That Jeremy Corbyn’s election victory is a welcome departure from the pro- austerity of “austerity-lite” policies of previous establishment politicians. 2) That Corbyn has a democratic mandate to carry out the policies that he campaigned on. 3) That Corbyn’s anti-austerity policies are ones that reflect the desire of millions of working people. 4) That attempts by the establishment and politicians both inside and outside of Labour to undermine Corbyn’s mandate are simply attempts to defend the policies of austerity, marketization and war. We resolve 1) To support and add our branch’s name to the statement (reproduced below) signed by most national union leaders, include Christine Blower and Kevin Courtney of the NUT, backing Jeremy Corbyn’s anti-austerity policies and his democratic mandate to lead Labour. 2) To mobilise for the biggest possible turn out on The TUC national lobby of parliament on Monday 2 November against the third reading of the Trade Union Bill Statement referred to in 1 which was launched by Unite the Resistance at the TUC and its intial signatories include leaders of almost all major trade unions in Britain. The overwhelming election of Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the Labour Party is a hugely welcome development for everyone who opposes austerity, racism and war. The thousands who packed into halls across Britain to hear Jeremy are clearly looking for a new kind of politics that breaks with the pro-austerity consensus. Some were established activists but many were young people from a generation that have faced the assault on EMA, spiraling tuition fees and the rise of zero hours contracts. They have been inspired by the campaign’s message. After years where the Labour leadership often aped Tory policies the party now has a leader who is a socialist with a proven track record of standing in solidarity with those fighting against injustice and for peace. His first act on being elected was to join the demonstration in support of refugees in London and to speak out in defence of the trade union movement and against the Tory Trade Union Bill. He won in an election where over 400,000 voted and he won almost 60 percent of the vote. This gives him a clear democratic mandate to carry out the polices that he put forward during the leadership contest. Any attempt by the media, or politicians from either inside or outside Labour Party to undermine Jeremy Corbyn and the policies he represents flies in the face of what is clearly an overwhelming democratic mandate. Jeremy Corbyn’s victory has already sent shock waves through an establishment that for years has had the luxury of a political leadership on both sides of the House of Commons prepared to back austerity. In Corbyn they see someone who stands for resistance to year after year of privatisation, cuts, and war. In short – policies that make the 99 percent pay for a crisis created by the 1 percent. We call on all those both inside and outside the Labour Party who support the pro-union, anti-austerity, anti-racist and anti-war policies that Jeremy Corbyn has put forward to stand up to any attempts to undermine his democratic right to lead the Labour Party and the programme he has supported.
D) Reps Activists Conference
Islington NUT notes the proposal for a Reps and activists conference in
Manchester on November 28th, building on a very successful fringe meeting
at NUT Conference 2015.
E) Climate Change
Islington NUT notes · We need to make the sharpest, fastest transition possible to a low carbon economy if we are to avoid a 4C global temperature rise by the end of the century · that current extreme weather events, from uncontrollable fires in California and Australia to droughts, floods, hurricanes and cyclones around the world, are the result of just 0.68C rise from the 1960s average. Recognises · that we are in decade zero to start making this transition · that the next three months will be crucial to influence the Paris Climate Summit in December; which is a make or break chance for an agreed international strategy · that if it fails, it will be even more important to press for as much action as can be taken anywhere we can force the issue. In this light we congratulate Robert Blair School for raising £12 000 from local businesses and community to put solar panels on their roof, thereby saving 2 tonnes of CO2 and £1 000 in fuel costs every year and urge other schools to do the same. We note that since its election this May the British government has moved from dragging its feet to moving purposefully in the wrong direction · Encouraging fracking and discouraging wind farms. · Maintaining subsidies for fossil fuel companies and slashing subsidies to solar to the point that the sector is likely to go belly up. · Removing planning regulations that made new buildings carbon neutral. We resolve to · Support the Climate Change demonstration in London on November 29th and circulate our Reps with posters and mobilising material. · Produce a model letter for parents, a Reps briefing for members to pressure MPs directly around the Paris Summit and material that could be used in classrooms/assemblies for students to do the same, including the Our World Art project.
F) Trade Union Bill Islington NUT condemns the plans outlined in the new Conservative Government’s Trade Union Bill. The Bill will introduce ballot thresholds for legal strike action requiring 40 percent of all those eligible having to vote yes with a greater than 50 percent turnout in any ballot involving workers in essential services. If these were applied to general elections, some 270 Tory MPs presently in the House of Commons would not have been elected and Ireland’s recent marriage equality referendum victory would have been a ‘defeat’. We believe that it should be for trade unions to decide if they think support is broad enough for action to be called – not for anti-union, pro-cuts politicians to block strike action. If the government were really concerned about building participation in union ballots, then they would allow unions to replace home postal ballots with workplace balloting using mobile phones and internet voting. The Bill will also: · Allow for the use of agency staff to replace striking workers · Increase the amount of notice needed to be given to employers before taking action · Introduce a need to re-ballot members after a set time of an ongoing dispute · Require the union to submit plans of picketing in advance with all pickets requiring to identify themselves to the police and wear armbands. · Require the union to submit plans on its use of social media when taking strike action
ITA therefore welcomes the unanimous opposition to the bill expressed at the TUC conference. We agree to support and publicise the demonstration called by the trade Union co-ordinating Group on 13th October. We further agree to work with other NUT Associations, trade union branches and the Trades Council to organise joint activities to publicise and oppose these threats, including calling on local Labour MPs and Councillors to publicly condemn the Tories’ plans and advocate Labour repeals them when it comes in to office. In addition we call on the National Executive to:
G) National Officer Elections
Islington NUT agrees to donate £50 towards the campaigning costs of each of the four candidates that we have nominated in the Vice President, Treasurer and Examiner of accounts elections. |
General Meeting 24th June 2015
1. Emergency motion on Venezuela. Islington ITA calls on our Action and Coordinating Group to agree to take a 1/8 page advert (for £110) with the slogan "If Venezuela can build a million houses, why can't we?" in the autumn edition of Viva Venezuela, which will be distributed at the TUC and Labour Party conferences. 2. Mary Wollstonecraft Statue. ITA supports the campaign to put a statue of Mary Wollstonecraft on Newington Green, London. The Mary on the Green campaign is part of Newington Green Action Group. Mary Wollstonecraft has no significant memorial to her anywhere. She advocated votes for women 100 years before the suffragettes. She was an educational pioneer and the first woman to publicly argue for education for girls. Aged 24, she set up a girls' school in Newington Green. After publishing books on girls' education and civil rights, she wrote 'A Vindication of the Rights of Woman' (1792) demanding 'Justice for one half of the human race'. She is now known as the 'Mother of Feminism'. She was a radical thinker who debated with Thomas Paine and Benjamin Franklin. One of the first female war correspondents and travel writers, she had a commitment to broader human rights and opposed the slave trade. She is the originator of the campaign for equality of access to education and the right to schooling. The Association agrees to give £100 to Mary on the Green. 3. Voting Age. Islington NUT welcomes the call from the SNP and the new leader of the Scottish Labour Party for EU citizens resident in the UK and 16 and 17 year olds to have a vote in the forthcoming EU referendum. 4. Climate Change. ITA recognises the importance of the campaign to combat climate change and in particular to reduce the levels of carbon dioxide emissions in order to keep the global temperature rise below 2 degrees Celsius. In order for the NUT to become involved with the campaign this Association urges the National Executive to: 1. Support and promote the demonstrations in Britain called on the weekend of November 28th/29th in London and Cardiff to coincide with the UN Climate Summit (COP21) 2. discuss with the Campaign Against Climate Change Trade Union Group the possibility of organising a conference for trade unionists on the theme of campaigning against climate change in 2016. 5. Organising to resist This branch notes: 1. The election of a majority Tory government in May this year. 2. The Tories plan a further £12 billion worth of welfare cuts plus continued attacks on health, education and public services. 3. That the Tory Trade Union Bill as outlined in the Queens Speech will create massive hurdles for public sector workers before they can call a strike. More than 50% of a unions members must vote in order for the ballot to be valid and at least 40% of those entitled to strike must be in favour of the strike. 4. The Tories would not have been elected if this criteria were applied. 5. The need for workers, campaigners and activists to come together to debate and discuss how we organise resistance to the Tories. 6. The rejuvenation of debate in the Labour Party on resistance to austerity, as a result of Jeremy Corbyn making it onto the ballot for leader. 7. The GLATUC Resisting Austerity Conference for Trade Unionists, Councillors and activists in Islington Town Hall on July 4th 8. The Marxism 2015 festival, held in central London from 9th – 13th July which will bring together 3,000 trade unionists, activists and workers from across the world to take part in over 150 meetings and workshops, to discuss and debate the political situation we face, and how best to organise and resist. 9. Speakers so far confirmed include Liz Lawrence, Darcus Howe, Peter Hain, Zoe Williams, Alex Callinicos, Ghada Karmi, Judith Orr, Gilbert Achcar, Stathis Kouvelakis, Richard Boyd Barrett, Ian Hodson, Ronnie Kasrils, Gus John, Richard House, Maz Saleem, Weyman Bennett, Jacky Davis, Gareth Peirce, Michael Roberts, Allyson Pollock and Alan Gibbons. 10. The Ways to Change the World Conference organised by Counterfire in central London on June 27/28 an event with music, arts and the spoken word with participants including David Harvey, Lindsey German, Tariq Ali, Owen Jones, John Rees, Francesca Martinez, Danny Dorling, Jeremy Corbyn, Clare Solomon, Kate Hudson, Chris Nineham, Ava Vidal, Katherine Connelly, James Meadway, Sam Fairbairn.
This branch resolves:
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