The Socialist 18 May 2011

Strike back at pensions robbery!

Strike back at pensions robbery!

Fight all the cuts - come to the NSSN conference

Battle for the NHS!

Derriford hospital announces huge cuts

Crisis deepens in the eurozone

The Hardest Hit march and rally

Teachers' strike stops job cuts

Iraq war: Labour's lie machine

Pay gap grows ever wider

News in brief

Britain now facing crisis on all fronts

Northern Ireland: The 'no change' elections

UCU at the crossroads on pensions

CWU conference: Support joint union action on 30 June

BA dispute: Mass meeting votes to put latest agreement to membership

Workplace news in brief

Con-Dems: Supporting Youth Enslavement

Yorkshire Youth Fight for Jobs regional conference

Tory cuts hit children and young people

Teachers strike and parents picket at Shorefields

Campaigners put pressure on Lambeth council

The difference a union makes

PDFs for this issue

PO Box 1398, Enfield EN1 9GT

020 8988 8777

[email protected]

Link to this page: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/671/12048

Search the site	Printable version

Home | The Socialist 18 May 2011 | Join the Socialist Party

Subscribe | Donate

Teachers' strike stops job cuts

Alistair Tice

Members of the teachers' union NUT on the 26 March TUC demonstration, photo Suzanne Beishon (Click to enlarge)

National Union of Teachers (NUT) members at Rawmarsh Community School in Rotherham have secured victory in their fight to stop compulsory redundancies. The new headteacher had wanted over 30 redundancies, including 25 teachers, to cut a management created deficit.

NUT members took nine days of strike action which reduced the threatened job losses to four teachers, of which the only NUT member was Ralph Dyson, the union rep at the school.

Action was then resumed after Easter with three more strike days and a further three-day and then five-day strike planned. This determined stance finally forced the head to back down and accept a compromise that keeps Ralph as a teacher at the school.

Whilst teachers have made concessions to help avoid compulsory redundancies, there is absolutely no doubt that it is only through the NUT members' strike action and solidarity that this victory has been achieved. That will inspire and give confidence to teachers elsewhere to fight the cuts.

At the same time, it's been a disgrace that the head has been backed by the Labour-led local education authority in not only making the cuts, but victimising the trade union rep at the school.

Ralph would like to thank all those who have given support and backing: "At times we have felt deeply humbled and proud by the support, advice and backing we have received. We know that the fight is not yet over and there are many hurdles to overcome. So may we take this opportunity to thank you all from all of us here at Rawmarsh Community School NUT.

"Without the above, the fight would have been a lot lonelier place to be and harder to fight for. At times when the resolve has been shaky your backing has been comforting and inspirational. The whole experience has been life changing and learnt us a lot about ourselves and others. It has given us the energy and motivation to keep up the fight."

In this issue

Socialist Party workplace news

Strike back at pensions robbery!