Martin Powell-Davies

Defending Teachers, Defending Education

SOCIALIST PARTY member Martin Powell-Davies has now secured enough nominations in the general secretary election of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) to proceed to the next stage of the election.

Where Martin has been able to speak to local association (branch) meetings of the NUT he has won enthusiastic support and now has enough nominations to ensure a place in the ballot of members in June.

He recently attacked the latest attempt to introduce performance-related pay (PRP) to all teachers. The School Teachers Pay Review Body declared on 16 March:

"We feel that a rigorous performance management system, robustly applied by school leaders, should be the hub of all progression.

"We therefore recommend that on the basis of a teacher's performance and professional development over the past year the headteacher should decide whether or not he or she has achieved at least the standard required to merit an increment on the main scale."

Martin was one of the main organisers of School Teachers Opposed to Performance Pay (STOPP), which worked to build a serious opposition to PRP. At Martin's initiative, STOPP organised a lively demonstration through London in 2000. If elected as general secretary, Martin would call for another protest - but this time with the full backing of the NUT.

Such a mass demonstration would be the first step in launching a campaign of national industrial action to oppose these attacks on teachers' pay. He would enact NUT conference policy to ballot for a boycott of performance management, as well as strike action.

To find out more about Martin's campaign see the website: http://elect-martin.tripod.com

email:martinpd_uk@yahoo.co.uk

Tel: 07946 445488

Donate to the Socialist Party

Coronavirus crisis - Finance appeal

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.

The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.

The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.

The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
Our 'fighting coronavirus workers' charter', outlines a programme to combat the virus and protect workers' living conditions.
When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.