Sheila Caffrey, NEU executive member, personal capacity
Before the National Education Union (NEU) indicative ballot on pay for school support staff and teachers has even closed, we are over the anti-trade union thresholds, and have a clear mandate of over 79% for strike action. Our sixth-form ballot has already closed, with a 77% turnout and an 85% call for strike.
Education staff have had enough! We’ve suffered cuts on cuts: to jobs like libraries and special educational needs, to our curriculum, to our professional development, and to our pay. The Tory government has made quite clear its disdain towards an education system that supports, nurtures and teaches children and young people, and instead sees it as a political football to kick, time and time again.
So, we’re going to strike back! At the last national executive meeting, it was decided we will move to a formal ballot as soon as possible. However, as that must be sent by post, the postal workers’ phenomenal action through November may make this difficult. Of course, we are in solidarity with their union, the CWU!
For this reason, it was agreed to extend the ballot period until January for school support staff and teachers. Obviously, a delay in taking action is not great, but neither would be lost or delayed papers that led to a lost ballot. The five Socialist Party members on the executive have been arguing for a ballot and a timetable of action for some months, which, had this not been rejected previously by the NEU Left leadership of the union, would have enabled strike action to take place much earlier. However, in the current circumstances, it was a tough call, but the Socialist Party members on the executive voted for this extension.
The sixth-form ballot will be much shorter, as it can start in October. This will mean they will be able to begin their action at the start of December.
Campaign
Socialist Party executive members also put forward the call for continual local and national events throughout the ballot period to keep members motivated and feeling part of the campaign. This could include street stalls, Zoom calls led by the general secretaries, and local rallies and events that would explain our campaign to the communities we teach. This was agreed. It was also agreed to unite action with other unions as much as possible.
Disappointingly, what wasn’t agreed, was a clear calendar for action. Members need to know this is not going to be just a one-day protest action, as we’ve done before. We are in a serious fight. They also need to be able to budget for loss of earnings at the end of a long winter of through-the-roof bills.
Our motion called for starting with one day, then two days and then three days. We suggested starting on the last couple of days of January, with the other dates spaced before and after half-term. Others on the executive were very quick to shut this down. Time and time again, the current leadership has voted against a calendar of action that would set out an intention to fight. This is disappointing, as we hoped this time it might be different. We will continue to build from below among the membership to keep the pressure on to ensure we have a fight that can win!
