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10th July - Joint Action! UNISON members in local government and schools are to strike on July 10 following a 1% pay offer. Three years of pay freezes from 2010, followed by 1% increases in both 2013 and 2014 mean local government pay had been reduced by almost 20% in real terms since the coalition government came to power UNITE are balloting their Local Government members and their ballot closes on Monday (30/6) NUT national Executive took a decision on 19 June to call strike action on 10 July. PCS has a 'live' mandate but agreed to hold a consultative ballot, with a recommendation to call members out on the 10th July. That ballot also closes on Monday (30/6) GMB are also reportedly balloting their Local Government members. FBU Firefighters in England and Wales took part in their 14th strike between 10am and 5pmon Saturday 21 June over attempts from government to drive through proposals that could see firefighters losing 50% of their pensions simply for being forced to retire early as a result of naturally declining fitness. The FBU will be meeting to decide if their members will be involved in any action on the 10th July
10th July – Story so far…. David Laws has now attended one meeting and Michael Gove may attend one in the future. The NUT’s campaign of engaging with parents, lobbying MPs and proposed strike action is having an impact. Possible progress appears to have been made on: 1) pay implementation – we expect to see government guidance documents issued to schools in the next few days covering the evidence required for PRP, equalities implications and appeals against pay progression. It remains to be seen exactly what this guidance looks like. 2) workload and accountability – we expect to see a DfE poster issued which outlines the fact that OFSTED doesn’t need to see lesson plans, doesn’t expect schools to grade lessons and a variety of other points. The government says it is committed to do a study into unnecessary workload connected to accountability. 3) retirement age – the government says it will do a joint study with the trade unions into ways that it could be made more possible to work to later ages. This could mean a right to part time working for example.
The government has refused to:- - issue guidance to schools that they should budget so that all eligible teachers could make pay progression - issue guidance to schools that all pay points should increase by the STRB’s headline figure of 1% (some teachers may not even get that from September) Taken together with the Government’s proposed 1 per cent pay cap in Sept2014 and likely RPI inflation - forecast by HM Treasury to be 3.1% for Q4 2014, teachers’ pay will have fallen by more than 15% in real terms. Do you deserve to earn less?? - commit to publishing the reference pay points beyond next year. These figures replace the statutory pay spine points and therefore removing them will make pay even more a free for all - allow even one extra INSET day to allow schools to prepare for the new curriculum. Government continues to refuse even to discuss:- - OFSTED ; the main driver of unnecessary workload - league tables and floor targets - the unfair changes to pensions - the introduction of performance related pay, - the amount of the pay rise
The problem with G.E.R.M. Pension contributions doubled.
The problem with G.E.R.M. • Forced changes in the curriculum • The idea that QTS isn’t important or required • Forced academisation • Schools being forced to form mini Local Authorities to make academisation economically viable • Portability of pay - Heads to pay what they think staff are worth or what they can afford • Increments received automatically if targets are met has been removed. Can your HT afford your progression?
Rapid changes that are noticeable • Schools without a staffroom • Breaks & lunches at different times to stop staff meeting • Staff without a lunch! Two academies in Norfolk are ‘consulting’ parents and staff regarding extension to the school day and the same is happening in Suffolk. When 1265hrs Directed time is removed. What time will you finish? What time will you collect your children?
Rapid changes that are noticeable • Dividing Unions e.g. NAHT has created a sub-section for middle management encouraging them to leave other Unions • School places crisis caused by handcuffing the LEA • Tests, tests and more tests • The use of capabilities disproportionately with women over 50 and Caribbean/Asian women • Monitoring teachers has become vast and vague. Previous agreements and guidelines are being ignored as schools monitor through observations, drop-ins, children’s books, learning walks and more.
What did the last action do for us? • Those who are 50 can retire at 60 instead of 68 • Some will still get their tax free lump sum • We’ll be a couple of thousand better off when we receive a pension • The STRB are listening and saying no to the Government - this has NEVER happened before. We need to maintain this!
July 10th - Is it worth it? Look at the net pay you receive each month & divide it by 30 to get a rough idea of how much you'll lose on 10.7.14 Is it worth it? Sacrificing that amount to create better working conditions and preserve an attractive profession for the next generation of teachers
Thought one... Most people join a Union to get something FROM it. If we we're weak and we don't GIVE; we reduce their chances of helping us achieve what WE need in the future.
Thought two... If you’re not going to go on strike on 10.7.14, the Government will say that those who didn't strike, SUPPORT the Government! Do you?
Thought three... Your Head teacher may look at how strong the membership is and evaluate what they can or can’t get away with in the future.
10th July – Join us On the 10th July the Unions will be hosting a rally in Ipswich 11am Giles Circus for march and rally Inform your Rep you will be joining the Action!
