Strike March 26 th NUT Members Briefing

1. Strike March 26thNUT Members Briefing Lewes, Eastbourne and Wealden NUT

2. Pensions Campaign Still Ongoing Dispute Remains over Pensions –working to 68+ Pay – removal of national system, introduction of ‘performance pay’, pay fallen by over 15% in real terms in 4 years. Workload – Nearly 60 hours a week in primary schools is national disgrace.

3. Pensions – The Facts It is widely recognised that it will not be possible for large numbers of teachers, probably the majority, to work until 68. On top of larger contributions and a smaller pension anyway taking ‘early’ retirement (e.g. at 63) will massively reduce pension received Government still refuses to value teachers’ pension scheme as it knows it will show financially the scheme is in excellent health and the changes are not necessary.

4. Pensions – Why strike? Previous strikes forced the government to protect teachers within 10 years of retirement from the changes. This is a big gain for many thousands of teachers but the union cannot allow our members younger than 50 and the profession to be so disadvantaged

5. Pay – The Facts Over 15% down in real terms over 4 years. No national system means ability to progress up the scale varies from school to school and even more widely from area to area ‘Performance’ related pay has no link with teaching quality A recruitment crisis for the profession is already beginning

6. Pay – Why strike? Your local union has put in a huge amount of work to achieve local pay polices that take some of the worst aspects of performance related pay away We cannot however make up for the fact that the national system is being broken up and teachers ability to access pay rises will be a postcode lottery. Pay appeals against non-progression are likely to take up far too much valuable head teacher and classroom teacher time

7. Workload – The Facts Union pressure has finally forced the government to publish its own workload survey Secondary teachers working 56 hours per week, primary teachers 59 hours per week. This is unstainable and will damage the profession. Nearly half of all teachers stay less 5 years in the profession

8. Workload – The Facts

9. Workload – Why Strike? The School Teachers Review Body rejected Michael Gove’s attempts to remove the workload protection we do have (PPA, lunch breaks, directed time limits, number of school days). Union campaigning was vital in this rejection However this is reviewed annually and we need to improve teachers workload situation so the campaign must continue.

10. Talks There are now weekly talks with the DFE However Michael Gove has said only how polices will be implemented is up for discussion – not if they are implemented. The NUT has decided it cannot agree to call off strikes until talks take place on the substantive issues. We are disappointed NASUWT has not kept promises of a joint campaign.

11. Public Support The majority of the public are on our side Only 19% think the Government should ‘stand up’ to teachers unions 54% of voters think Michael Gove is doing badly 21% think Michael Gove is doing well

12. Strike 26th March Encourage all colleagues to strike Joining the NUT can be done up to and on strike day. Attend an event in Brighton, Eastbourne or Hastings on the day – details soon Support the campaign on social media, contact your MP, write to local papers Access the union hardship fund rather than not strike for financial reasons

13. A Union is only as strong as its members STRIKE 26th MARCH!