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From The Socialist newspaper, 2 December 2020
East London teachers strike in support of victimised union rep
LDE UTC strike, Photo: Socialist Party (Click to enlarge)
Hannah Sell, East London Socialist Party
Teachers at the London Design and Engineering College (LDE UTC) in Newham are on their third day of strike action against the summary dismissal of an NEU rep, Sharon.
LDE UTC is a free school where the head thinks he can do as he pleases. Its building is squashed into a corner of the University of East London.
It is far too small for the number of pupils and has no playground. When the NEU rightly raised health and safety concerns during the pandemic, the head responded by sacking the rep and saying she had no rights because she had been employed for less than two years.
Now teachers are determined to show the head he can't get away with this bullying behaviour.
A judge found in favour of Sharon and told LDE management to reinstate her. Management said it would comply, but has reneged.
Sharon explained: "I wasn't told there was an investigation, I wasn't asked any questions, I was just sent a 'dismissal pack' by courier to my house.
"I was dismissed for trade union activity; I had become a workplace rep in July, and had asked questions about Covid-19 and general health and safety.
"They don't want to acknowledge the NEU at the college, and they just planned to get rid of me. I arrived back in September to find they'd recruited another member of staff to replace me.
"Today we've got teachers out on the picket. An attack on one is an attack on all. I ask readers of the Socialist to show solidarity with our strike."
Another striker added: "This school has no regard for workers' rights. Victimisation and intimidation seem to be built into our contracts. That is why we're very pleased with the turnout today."
A rally in support of the strikers was held with speakers including Niall Mulholland from Newham Trades Council, and Ferdy Lyons from East London Socialist Party.
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The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
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In The Socialist 2 December 2020:
What we think
Spending Review. Unions must resist return to austerity
Spending Review
What will the spending review mean for me?
Napo kickstarts fight against pay freeze
News
Better for billionaires. Worse for workers
Arcadia and Debenhams closures: Nationalise to save jobs and pensions
Scotland: Campaign wins end to period poverty
NHS: Underfunded, understaffed, underpaid
Devolution
Workplace News
Don't let the festive season be one of misery for retail workers
Equity union conference calls for radical change - now lead a fight!
Solidarity with Brighton UCU strike - we won't pay for Covid crisis
East London teachers strike in support of victimised union rep
Heathrow workers strike against 'fire and rehire' plans
Hackney: Stop plan to halve school support staff!
Pay freeze protest Homerton Hospital
Unison general secretary ballot closes
Environment
'Building back greener' - yet more Tory greenwash
International News
Marxism
Review: Friedrich Engels - Condition of the working class in England
Campaigns
Wales TUSC plans to mount an electoral challenge
Rent strikers' victory in Manchester student halls
Labour meeting lets MP get away with 'Spycops' abstention
Reader's opinion
Fast fashion, big profits, low pay
Diego Maradona - Working-class rebel, football genius
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