Labels

Labels should help you find information. For example if you want to know when the next meeting is, click on "meetings".

For information about the pay campaign click on "pay"

Hardship fund update

Hardship fund.

If you were unable to strike for any reason or you are one of the
thousands of members of other unions who supported the NUT strike
then you can help by donating to the hardship fund.

See your rep, email wstalearn(at)yahoo.co.uk or ring the helpline for details

If on the other hand you had difficulty joining the strike
because of financial hardship inform your rep who can pass on the
information to Phil. The purpose of the hardship fund is to
lighten the burden on teachers who want to join us and come to the
rally in Worthing Pavilion Theatre at 10 am on April 24th...

Claims to the hardship fund should be submitted by the end of July. Donations will always be welcomed :)

Other areas

Reports from other areas taken from Classroom teacher

We have changed the colours from blackboard to whiteboard to make the blog more readable.

Email in about action in your area to WSTAlearn(at)yahoo.co.uk

Hull

Bristol

Coventry and Birmingham

Huddersfield

London

Brighton and Eastbourne

St Helens

Worthing

Ipswich

Bolton and Manchester

and the new Classroom Teacher 5

Worthing Herald

The Worthing Herald has photos and a video of the rally in Worthing.

Click here

Day of Action

283 members attended the rally in Worthing on 24th April and it was a great start to the Fair Pay for Teachers campaign.

Veronica Peppiatt gave a moving tribute to Steve Sinnott and emphasised that he could always see the good in people – even those who bitterly opposed him and how he had sought to use all the talents of union members and pull the union together. It is up to us to make use of that unity and take the union forward.

There was a minute’s silence in memory of Steve.

Regional Secretary Marian Darke struck a different note entirely when she sang about Ed Balls seeing the light and deciding to stop the Academy Program and abolish SATS and OFSTED and ended up with the idea that the strike would show the determination of teachers to bring about these changes and achieve fair pay for teachers.

Veronica then spoke about the thinking of the National Executive on how to take the campaign forward after the strike. No serious economist supports the government’s view that public sector pay causes inflation and she wondered aloud how an increase in teacher’s pay could retrospectively increase oil prices!

The government uses one measure of inflation to calculate the debts of young teachers and a different, much lower measure when it comes to calculating teacher’s pay. The National Executive meets next week to decide what action we can take on pay and workload.

The mood of the meeting was electric and speakers were cheered to the echo. The biggest applause was reserved for Marian Darke.

There was a mood of enthusiasm and a feeling that the campaign should be taken forward. Members were keen to take petition forms. The key task now is to strengthen the union organisation – it has been shown that reps were the key to the success of the strike in individual schools – and create email groups of reps to share ideas and to use the union’s facebook group and this blog to keep in touch with each other.

The people at the meeting are the key to the future of West Sussex Teachers’ Association.

If you have experiences of the strike to share with us you can join our facebook group or email WSTAlearn(at)yahoo.co.uk

Meanwhile anybody who did not get the petition can download it by clicking

here

Message from Christine Blower

April 24 was a really good day for the Union. We got lots of media coverage, some supportive some less so but all affording the opportunity to make our case for Fair Pay For Teachers.

Especially pleasing was the involvement of younger teachers both in speaking at rallies and giving interviews to the media. Even more pleasing is that net membership of the Union is up. As of 24th April some members had chosen to resign but far more had chosen to join. On one day we had so many calls that the phones could barely manage and we had to divert joiners to a specially prepared page on teachers.org.uk!

Many, if not all the rallies featured a minutes silence or applause in memory of and as a mark of respect for Steve. In his letter of support for our action Dave Prentis, General Secretary of UNISON included a handwritten note which said:

"Steve would have been so proud of you all". I think there was a real sense of the pride Steve would have felt at all the events.

The Union received messages of support from other unions both in the UK and internationally. And the international dimension was also evident in the interviews given to TV crews covering the strike from Germany, Italy and China, as well as a radio interview with a station in Los Angeles.

Going forward there is the TUC Lobby of Parliament to take place on June 9th in which I hope many members will be able to participate. The question then is not whether we continue to campaign but how.

There is still much to be done to ensure that teachers' pay is protected and increased and that all of the issues arising from Conference are progressed.

I look forward to working with you on all these and building the Union through active campaigning.

May I also wish you a happy May Day for May 1st.

Schools affected by the strike

The following WSCC secondary schools have advised us that they are likely to be affected by the strike;

* Angmering School (The) (closed for years 7,8,9 and 10. Years 11,12 and 13 open)
* Bishop Luffa C.E. School, Chichester (closed for years 7, 8 and 10 only. Open for years 9,11,12 and 13)
* Bourne Community College (Partially open. Closed for years 7,8 and 11)
* Boundstone Community College (closed for years 8,9, and 10. Some year 11 being invited to attend)
* Chatsmore Catholic High School (open for years 9,10 and 11 only)
* Chichester High School for Boys (closed for years 7,8 and 9 only. Open for years 10,11,12 and 13)
* Chichester High School for Girls (Partially open. Closed for years 7,8,10,12 and 13)
* Davison C.E. High School for Girls, Worthing (closed for all years except year 11)
* Downlands Community School , Hassocks (closed)
* Durrington High School, Worthing (closed)
* Felpham Community College (closed for students in Key Stages 3 and 4. Students in years 12 and 13 may come into college but will be working independently.)
* Forest School (The), Horsham (Closed. No teaching but year 11 can attend)
* Hazelwick School (Open for years 7,9,11,12 and 13. Closed for years 8 and 10.)
* Holy Trinity CE Secondary School, Crawley (closed for years 7 and 10, special arrangements for year 11)
* Imberhorne School, East Grinstead (Closed for years 7,8 and 10)
* Kings Manor Community College (closed for years 8,9,10 and 11. Sixth form open)
* Littlehampton Community School (closed)
* Manhood Community College (closed for years 7,8 and 9. Open for years 10 and 11.)
* Millais School, Horsham (Closed for years 7,8 and 10)
* Oakmeeds Community College, Burgess Hill (closed)
* Oathall Community College, Haywards Heath (closed)
* Oriel High School, Crawley (open for year 11 rest of school closed)
* St. Andrews CE High School, Worthing (closed for years 8 and 9. Open for years 10 and 11)
* St. Paul's Catholic College, Burgess Hill (partial closure)
* St. Philip Howard, Barnham (closed for years 7,8,9,10 and 11. Open for sixth form)
* Steyning Grammar School (only year 12 to attend)
* Sackville School, East Grinstead (closed)
* Tanbridge House School, Horsham (closed for years 7,8,9 and 10)
* Thomas Bennett Community College, Crawley (closed for years 7,8,9 and 10)
* Warden Park School, Haywards Heath (closed but with special arrangements)
* Weald School (The),Billingshurst (closed for years 7,8 and 10)
* Westergate Community School (closed to all years except year 11)
* Worthing High School (closed)

Message from Christine Blower

If you cannot strike

Members who are exempt from strike action because of the nature of their school or of their work patterns have been sending in messages of support to the West Sussex Teachers' Association. Some have also been donating up to a day's pay to the hardship fund which has been set up by WSTA.

Contact your rep or the helpline 01342 410805 or wstalearn(at)yahoo.co.uk for details.

Rallies

Brighton and Hove have a facebook group!
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6239878349Click here

On it they have advertised their rally

NUT March and rally on 24th April.
Meet 11am in Pavilion Gardens
11.30 at Old Ship Hotel on seafront.

We also welcome Brighton and Hove members who would find it convenient to come to our Worthing rally
Day of Action
24 April 2008
The Pavillion Theatre Worthing
10 am to 12 noon
Veronica Peppiatt NEC member
Marian Dark Regional Secretary
A young teacher
Angela Ahern WSTA president will be in the chair.

Local Voice preview

Here is a preview of the forthcoming Local Voice based on Classroom Teacher 3

Click here

Steve Sinnott 1951-2008

NUT General Secretary, Steve Sinnott, died suddenly on 5 April, 2008. He was 56. His loss will be keenest felt by his beloved wife Mary, his son, daughter, grandchildren and extended family.

Steve was General Secretary from 2004, having served the Union previously as member of the National Executive, President and Deputy General Secretary.

The loss of Steve Sinnott is grievous for the teaching profession; catastrophic for all NUT members; and desperately sad for his colleagues and friends. For the international community the loss of a campaigner against injustice and tyranny is deeply tragic.

In his address to Annual Conference this year, Steve Sinnott opened by saying, “Steve Sinnott, General Secretary, National Union of Teachers”. He took enormous pride from those words. He thought it was ‘smashing!’ No-one loved the Union more.

Steve Sinnott was at the head of the Union during a most challenging period. The Union is in the midst of a major pay campaign. A one-day strike has been called on 24 April. His skillful leadership would have been invaluable in ensuring its success.
The Officers of the Union, acting as a Committee of Urgency, have decided that the strike should continue as planned.

Details of the funeral arrangements and other matters will be published on the Union's web-site.

Acting General Secretary, Christine Blower said: “Our hearts go out to Steve’s family at this sad time.

I know that he would have wanted the Union to go ahead with all its campaigns because he believed in all of them with his heart as well as his head.

At a later stage we will have the opportunity properly to remember Steve Sinnott, to honour his achievements and to celebrate his life.
For now, the best way to mark our respect would be to maximise the effect of the campaigns to which he was so committed.”

TES online survey

The TES online survey shows massive support from non NUT teachers for strike action. Their union leaders should wake up and pay attention!

Source: TES online survey of 7,336 teachers, of whom 3,521
were NUT members

Is the one-day strike on April 24 a good idea?

All teachers Yes 62% No 38%
Non-NUT members Yes 52% No 48%
NUT members Yes 73% No 27%
(The same proportion of NUT members said they intended to
walk out on April 24)

Will it cause your school to close?

All teachers Yes 47% No 53%
Non-NUT members Yes 39% No 61%
NUT members Yes 55% No 45%

Lots of teachers are joining the NUT so that they can join their colleagues in the strike action on April 24th.

To be covered for the strike they can join anytime up to Wed April 23rd.

The easiest way to join is by ringing 0845 300 1669.

Joining rates - full time permanent

If joining by Direct Debit the fee for the rest of the year for a full time permanent teacher is pro-rata'd down to £99.40

Signing up to DD instalments before the 17th April will thus result in 7 payments from 1st May to 1st November of £14.20 each.

Supply and part-timers
Rates are less for teachers who work 0.6 or less, and lower again for 0.3 or less ( broadly half and quarter the above rates)

Teachers on day-to-day contracts also pay less.

Unqualified teachers on routes to qualified status.
Student teachers and teachers who are on employment based routes towards qualified teachers status can all be members for FREE until they get their qualification.

Teachers who have already paid some subscription to another teachers union.

Teachers who have paid subscriptions to another union can join the NUT for £7.10 for the remainder of this year - providing they are making a commitment to remain in membership of the NUT.

Deal or no deal?

All out on 24th April

Jumping the gun slightly here.
The Classroom Teacher leaflet on what to do if the union votes to strike on 24th April can be downloaded here

You can download it and print it out at no extra charge.

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.

Pay campaign update

Pay campaign information

Pay – Something We Can Achieve

West Sussex NUT Extraordinary General Meeting,
Saturday 1st Dec.
10 – 11 a.m.
Southern Area Professional Centre,
Worthing
Click here for the leaflet
Map


International Resource Centre, Southern Area Professional Centre,
Glebeside Avenue, Worthing BN14 7PR Tel: 01903 847625


The centre is approximately 15 minute walk from West Worthing station and 20-25 minutes from
Worthing Central.(Taxis available)


Have Your Say on Pay


Ian Murch (National Treasurer) looks at the prospects for our pay campaign

Teachers’ pay has been eroded in purchasing power by about 2% over the last year. A similar situation prevails in the rest of the public sector, but not in most of the private sector, where earnings are keeping pace with inflation.

From September 2007, we are facing a year in which another pay rise of 2.5% will see us around half a percent behind the rise in the cost of living.

At the end of October, the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) will report to Government on what the increase in teachers’ pay should be for the three years beginning September 2008. The Government’s evidence to the STRB, on what it expects them to report, is unequivocal – and underlined in the evidence itself - “a three year pay award with a basic settlement of a maximum of 2% per year”.

The evidence from the Government, and its trade union partners in the Rewards and Incentives Group (RIG), is a catalogue of the allegedly good things the Government has done for teachers. Delivery of the workforce remodelling agenda, they say, has improved teachers’ morale and reduced our workload.

These arguments will of course only annoy most teachers when they hear them.

Shamefaced Distortion of Reality
The argument for 2% a year is that this is the Government’s inflation target. It is the target for inflation on the new Consumer Price Index that the Government prefers to use instead of the old Retail Price Index (RPI). The CPI, which largely excludes housing costs, consistently measures inflation at around 1% less than the RPI.

So the Government’s intention is to cut our real standard of living by about 1% a year up to 2011, if it meets its inflation target. It generally fails to meet the target, so the real cut in livings standards is likely to be greater.

This puts the ball very firmly in the court of the NUT and other teacher and public sector trade unions.

We will know our fate potentially for 4 years into the future by the end of the month, because of the introduction of multi-year pay awards. A campaign that includes a willingness to take action is now more needed and justified than during any of the period since 1987. Quite a lot of our colleagues (maybe a majority) have never taken any form of industrial action. We therefore need to prepare and inform them, generate confidence and to create a campaign that consists of a range of activities that lead on to strike action if these do not succeed.

We have a responsibility to generate the most effective campaign that we can, and that we can and must overcome the scepticism where it exists.

Prepare for the Ballot
The National Executive is committed to a ballot in the Autumn Term to protect teachers from ‘boom and bust’ pay policies detrimental to the teaching profession.

As one of the factors that will determine when and how successfully we can act is the willingness of other unions to act with us. With NASUWT and ATL, the most we can hope for is probably that our campaigning puts them under pressure from their members. There is certainly no way they will act before the Government pronounces in November on the settlement for 2008-2011, and they are so tied in with the Social Partnership that it will take a lot to get them to move, even if that settlement is as bad as we fear.

If teachers are feeling the pinch, housing costs are a big factor in this. Every cohort of new young teachers faces the problem of getting on the housing ladder – a problem that is worse than it has been for 25 years.

We are committed now to this campaign.

Let us put all of our energies into generating enthusiasm and engagement among our fellow members and our colleagues in other unions.

Petition for pay

Petition for pay,

Sign up! Send it off!

The NUT petition, once signed, needs to be returned no later than November 16 2007 to NUT, HAMILTON HOUSE, MABLEDON PLACE, LONDON WC1H 9BD envelope marked "Fair Pay For Teachers"

You can obtain copies or additional copies of the petition that has been sent to your NUT school representative. Make sure you add your name and urge your colleagues to add theirs!