Conference Blog: Workload and Pay

Phil Dufty:

Great to see the workload issues so plainly spelt out and to see the pay campaign broadened to include these.

Derek McMillan

I think Richard Reisser summed the situation up well. For teachers the issues of workload, performance management and pay are not separate, they are all seen as part of the same problem.

Martin Powell Davies' speech was so convincing it led to what is being called "the miracle of Gerry Glazier" where Gerry got up to oppose Martin's view and ended up changing his mind half way through. The Executive are feeling the pressure of members who want action on pay and workload and so long as the pressure is maintained the miraculous transformation will be continued.

I also attended the Socialist Teachers fringe meeting to hear Tony Mulhearn talking about a Labour Council (yes a Labour Council) which stood up for the people of Liverpool against Margaret Thatcher. In fact Tony concentrated mainly on the future rather than the past and the prospects for trade unions to act independently in the political sphere.