
The Socialist 8 January 2020
Climate change. Poverty. War. Capitalism must go - fight for socialism

Suleimani's assassination - Middle East thrown into turmoil
Trump attacks Iran - London protest: We need workers' action against war and austerity
Build union resistance to Tory attacks
Defend the right to strike! - RMT and NSSN lobby parliament
2020: Class struggles and capitalist instability will intensify
Capitalism must go - fight for socialism
Trouble ahead for Johnson: Brexit is far from 'done'
Tory minimum wage hike not enough
Northern Rail franchise in question: nationalise the railways!
Children need intensive care? We don't care!
Shell pays £0 corporation tax, and plans huge hike in fossil output
Ignore the hype - austerity goes on: organise to resist
International wave of revolt continues
What next after the general election, for PCS and the left
Council concedes to striking winter gritters' demands
West Midlands RMT guards jobs saved
All we want for Christmas is a no-strings pay rise
Anti-academy strike action in Newham
Socialist Party members out on the streets
£50,240 - a new fighting fund record
PO Box 1398, Enfield EN1 9GT
020 8988 8777

Link to this page: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/1068/30027
![]() | |||
Home | The Socialist 8 January 2020 | Join the Socialist Party
Subscribe | Donate | Audio | PDF | ebook
Anti-academy strikes in Newham
Members of the National Education Union (NEU) at St Angela's and St Michael's Catholic schools in Newham, East London, were on strike on 11 December against being forced into becoming privately run academies.
There's no evidence that academies improve schools. And they have been used to worsen terms and conditions for education workers.
The striking workers had a meeting with a wealth of experience in the room, including joint Newham NEU branch secretary Louise Cuffaro who helped lead the campaign that blocked the academisation of Avenue primary school in 2018. Parents' support was hugely important at Avenue. But it was strike action by staff that made the difference. They balloted for action as soon as they caught wind of academisation.
Socialist Party member Niall Mulholland addressed the 11 December striking teachers' meeting. He described how he helped lead a parents' campaign in support of striking teachers at Stratford Academy, also in Newham, in 2012. That strike beat 33% pay cuts.
Louise pointed out that previous teachers' and parents' action pressurised Newham's Labour council to oppose academisation. The council should immediately intervene to help stop academisation.
The diocese must withdraw its attempt to force schools into joining the multi-academy trust and the schools' governors must abandon the academisation drive. If they don't, five more days of strikes are planned for the new year.
Ian Pattison, East London Socialist Party
This version of this article was first posted on the Socialist Party website on 17 December 2019 and may vary slightly from the version subsequently printed in The Socialist.
In this issue
Iran
Suleimani's assassination - Middle East thrown into turmoil
Trump attacks Iran - London protest: We need workers' action against war and austerity
Defend the right to strike
Build union resistance to Tory attacks
Defend the right to strike! - RMT and NSSN lobby parliament
What we think
2020: Class struggles and capitalist instability will intensify
News
Capitalism must go - fight for socialism
Trouble ahead for Johnson: Brexit is far from 'done'
Tory minimum wage hike not enough
Northern Rail franchise in question: nationalise the railways!
Children need intensive care? We don't care!
Shell pays £0 corporation tax, and plans huge hike in fossil output
Ignore the hype - austerity goes on: organise to resist
International wave of revolt continues
Workplace news
What next after the general election, for PCS and the left
Council concedes to striking winter gritters' demands
West Midlands RMT guards jobs saved
All we want for Christmas is a no-strings pay rise
Anti-academy strike action in Newham
Campaigns
Socialist Party members out on the streets
£50,240 - a new fighting fund record
Readers' opinion
Home | The Socialist 8 January 2020 | Join the Socialist Party
Related links:
Protest against immigration enforcement centre in Newham
Schools... no going back until it's safe
East London Socialist Party: Why are coronavirus deaths higher in working-class areas?
Communities condemn Tory handling of crisis - with safe protests
British Gas workers strike against 'fire and rehire' plans
British Gas workers on strike against fire and re-hire pay cut
Hospital security staff on strike for £12 an hour
South London council workers vote to strike
Act together to oppose unsafe numbers and rising workload
East London Socialist Party: The fight for safe schools
Workers' action wins Tory U-turn on school safety
Don't let Tories starve our kids
Even more delay in stopping school transmission?
Organise a mass refusal to attend unsafe schools on Monday