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| National Union of Teachers backs ballot on strike action | National Union of Teachers backs ballot on strike action |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Schools in England face the possibility of strike action this summer after the National Union of Teachers overwhelmingly backed a ballot on industrial action to oppose the government’s education white paper. | |
| The decision, which faced little opposition at the union’s annual conference in Brighton, means the government could now have to deal with a series of strikes on two fronts, after junior doctors announced last week a two-day strike in late April. | The decision, which faced little opposition at the union’s annual conference in Brighton, means the government could now have to deal with a series of strikes on two fronts, after junior doctors announced last week a two-day strike in late April. |
| Related: 'They’ve gone bonkers': Tory councillors angry with academy plans | Related: 'They’ve gone bonkers': Tory councillors angry with academy plans |
| Teachers debated an emergency motion calling for joint action with the other major teaching unions, as well as balloting NUT members on national action as soon as possible. | Teachers debated an emergency motion calling for joint action with the other major teaching unions, as well as balloting NUT members on national action as soon as possible. |
| If a ballot is passed by NUT members in five weeks time, any strike would probably take place in July, after A-levels and GCSE exams have been completed to avoid disruption. | If a ballot is passed by NUT members in five weeks time, any strike would probably take place in July, after A-levels and GCSE exams have been completed to avoid disruption. |
| The motion put to the NUT’s delegates cited a Financial Times editorial that described the white paper as “a risky experiment”, while speakers decried Nicky Morgan’s proposals – which include converting all state schools into academies, getting rid of the requirement to have parent-governors, and dramatically restructuring teacher training qualifications. | |
| Hazel Danson, an NUT executive member who moved the motion, described the white paper’s policies as “totalitarian” and “socially dysfunctional”. | Hazel Danson, an NUT executive member who moved the motion, described the white paper’s policies as “totalitarian” and “socially dysfunctional”. |
| The mood among the teachers could be seen in the large majority who voted to strengthen the original motion, passing an amendment allowing for strikes in autumn as well as summer, and called for coordinated campaigns and action with the British Medical Association. | The mood among the teachers could be seen in the large majority who voted to strengthen the original motion, passing an amendment allowing for strikes in autumn as well as summer, and called for coordinated campaigns and action with the British Medical Association. |
| Related: Jeremy Corbyn: Tories are asset stripping the education system | Related: Jeremy Corbyn: Tories are asset stripping the education system |
| Debs Gwynn, a delegate from Morton in Derbyshire, told delegates: “At the end of the day, if this white paper goes through and becomes law, we will have no negotiation rights, we will have no national pay and conditions agreements, we will have no local authorities.” | |
| Instead, each school “will have to go and buy services in separately from the private sector and that is exactly what this white paper is about”. | |
| She added: “We’ve seen the junior doctors, they’ve been out on strike, they are escalating their action because the government is not prepared to negotiate. It wants to privatise the NHS, it wants to privatise education, so it’s right that we try and coordinate our action with junior doctors,.” | |
| Jessica Edwards, a delegate from Lambeth, claimed some headteachers in London were already secretly meeting and jockeying with each other to become chief executives of the new multi-academy trusts that will need to be formed. | |
| “We have to send a message to those heads: don’t jump ship now, because the NUT is going to fight. And that is why we have to strike before the summer, that is why we have to make sure our fight starts now,” she said. | |
| “We have to send a signal that we are prepared to stand up, not only for our members but for our children and for the education that they deserve.” | “We have to send a signal that we are prepared to stand up, not only for our members but for our children and for the education that they deserve.” |
| Alex Kenny, an NUT executive member who moved the amendment, told the conference: “If we are going to agree [on a strike ballot], it’s not going to be delivered from head office, it’s not going to be delivered on Facebook or Twitter. It’s going to be delivered in schools, by talking to members.” | Alex Kenny, an NUT executive member who moved the amendment, told the conference: “If we are going to agree [on a strike ballot], it’s not going to be delivered from head office, it’s not going to be delivered on Facebook or Twitter. It’s going to be delivered in schools, by talking to members.” |
| The motion also calls for the NUT to approach the other teaching unions with an eye to combined action, including joint strikes, in an effort to put pressure on the government. | The motion also calls for the NUT to approach the other teaching unions with an eye to combined action, including joint strikes, in an effort to put pressure on the government. |
| Related: The teachers who plan to quit over George Osborne’s academy plans | Sarah Marsh | |
| Hank Roberts, a delegate from Brent, said: “We have to involve the other unions in this, we have to take it to them and ask. If they say no we’ll have to deal with it, but it’s vital that we ask the NASUWT, the [head teachers’ unions] NAHT and ASCL. | Hank Roberts, a delegate from Brent, said: “We have to involve the other unions in this, we have to take it to them and ask. If they say no we’ll have to deal with it, but it’s vital that we ask the NASUWT, the [head teachers’ unions] NAHT and ASCL. |
| “This is a fundamental attack on state education and we have to ask everybody to join in.” | “This is a fundamental attack on state education and we have to ask everybody to join in.” |
| Earlier, NUT delegates supported continuing efforts to merge with the ATL teachers union, which would likely see a new combined union being created. | Earlier, NUT delegates supported continuing efforts to merge with the ATL teachers union, which would likely see a new combined union being created. |
| A spokesman for the Department of Education said: “It’s disappointing that the NUT would rather play politics with our children’s future than work constructively with us to deliver our vision for educational excellence everywhere.“As set out in our white paper we are determined to continue with our vision to ensure every single child has the best possible education, as well as raising the status of the profession. It would be refreshing to see the NUT doing likewise.” |