2009 Conference News

Acting General Secretary, Christine Blower summed up the conference by saying:

The NUT Conference 2009 was an uplifting event for me and, I think, for everyone who attended. Teachers coming together to decide the Union's priorities for improving the education of our children is always inspirational. It was also, of course, a time of sadness for the Union and for all those of us who worked with Steve Sinnott, as we remembered his life and his unique contribution to improving the lives of children, teachers and the education service.

The power of education Steve’s death has focussed attention on his life. He was at his very core a teacher. His trade unionism and his internationalism grew from his deep commitment to equality and justice; to education as the great liberator. Steve would, I know, have agreed with the recent statement from Nelson Mandela, a great supporter of the Global Campaign for Education, that, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

What the NUT?stands for

Not the atomisation of privatisation and outsourcing. Not schools subject to the profit principle. Not Academies, or even Trust schools.

To achieve these aims for the benefit of children and teachers, we need the maximum possible trade union solidarity. This is not about Professional Unity for the sake of it; this is Professional Unity because it’s best for children, best for teachers and best for the education service. We believe one union for all teachers would help us achieve all this.

These words from the AGS sum up the motions passed during the 5 days at conference extremely well. There was a lot of great debate over the motions which demonstrated the range of opinions held by members across the country. It was a great pleasure to once again represent Blackpool Division at the national conference. After the quality of debate, all 4 delegates were very proud to be part of this great union.

Friday 10th April 2009 - First Session

Conference was opened by Bill Greenshields, President 2008-2009, at 4:30pm. The minutes and the appointment of the scrutineers were passed by conference before the installation of the new President, Mr Martin Reed. Bill Greenshields was then thanked by Mr John Holmes and was given his Ex-Presidents badge and souvenir.

Conference then welcomed representatives of the following groups to address the hall. The guests of the Union were:

The reports of the National Council of the Teacher Support Network, Teachers Assurance and the Teachers’ Building Society were received by conference and were agreed unanimously. Nina Franklin gave a vote of thanks to the National Council and Boards on behalf of the Union.

Conference then welcomed the address by The Right Honourable The Lord Mayor of Cardiff, Councillor Kate Lloyd who ensured us that we would find Cardiff a truly welcoming and entertaining city.

The winner of the Fred and Anne Jarvis Award was then announced but unfortunately the winner could not be present at conference so it was decided that the award would be presented to her at the National Education Conference on Saturday 11th July at Stoke Rochford Hall.

The first session of the 2009 conference was then concluded with a video tribute to members that had passed away since conference 2008. This was a very moving tribute to those that had worked tirelessly for the Union.

Saturday 11th April 2009 - Second Session 9:15 – 12:30

The Second session of conference began at 9:15 with Mr Martin Reed delivering his presidential address, a copy of which can be read on request, please ask one of the delegates who attended. This was a very passionate speech about education being the great liberator. Martin spoke about how his own humble working class origins were difficult but that with the power of education and learning his family were able to make a better life for themselves. He also spoke of his pride at being the President of the National Union of Teachers, particularly during conference 2009 in Cardiff which is the city in which he spent many years as a student.M/p>

Conference were asked to consider the suspension of standing orders to allow a priority motion to be debated. The priority motion was in relation to the boycott of SATs in 2010. It was agreed by conference that the priority motion would be debated at 3:00pm at the start of the third session.

The reports of the Conference Business Committee, Annual Report of the Executive and the Report of the Wales Committee were passed unanimously by conference.

Organising and Membership

Motion 15 (Carried unanimously as amended by 15.1 and 15.2)

Casework for Members, Moved by Dennis Charman (Hammersmith & Fulham), Seconded by Ken Cridland (Fylde)

This motion highlighted the pressures and the increase in workload being experienced by local officers when dealing with casework. It gave some possible practical solutions which the Executive could implement to help support local lay officers. This motion was amended by 15.1 and 15.2 which were strengthening amendments. It was passed unanimously by conference.

Motion 16 (Carried as amended by 16.1)

Organising and Recruitment, Moved by Roger King (Executive)

This motion congratulated the Union on its continued growth in a highly competitive market. It instructed the Executive to continue to develop support for local associations and divisions as well as school based reps in order to increase membership. This motion was carried with amendment 16.1 which sought to add some more practical activities which the Union can try.

Resource Management

Motion 17 (Carried unanimously), Moved by Mick Lerry (Executive), Seconded by Keith Gardiner (Executive)

It was moved and seconded that the Organisation and Administration Section of the Annual Report of the Executive be adopted (Annual Report of the Executive pages 137 – 142). This was passed unanimously.

Motion 18 (Defeated)

Regional and Wales Office Staffing Levels, Moved by Simon Jones (Blackburn with Darwen), Seconded by Paul Hogan (Blackburn with Darwen)

This was a very contentious motion. Simon and Paul both gave passionate speeches about the very real issue of an increased and burdening workload for local officers. They highlighted the fact that many lay officers are finding the workload unbearable due to the increased membership which has resulted in increased workload which is becoming more complex in nature. This motion called on the Executive to look into reorganising regional office staffing levels to offer more support to associations and divisions. The final paragraph which called for action by the Executive was ruled out of order because of the contents of Motion 15. When amendment 18.1 for the Executive was debated it also became a contentious issue which when voted on became a division. The amendment was not supported by Blackpool NUT and the results of the division were For: 69,847 Against: 120,654 Majority: 50,817 This amendment was therefore defeated. When the main motion was debated further in the unfinished business section it was also defeated with the Union deciding to try the contents of Motion 15 before going further. Simon Jones was rightly very annoyed by the fact that the motion was debated on the Saturday but had to be carried over to the Monday. Those speaking against were allowed to speak again but Simon was not!!

Saturday 11th April - Third Session 2:00 – 4:30

Education: Secondary

Motion 19 (Carried as amended by 19.1), Moved by Hazel Danson (Executive), Seconded by Angela Davies (Executive)

It was moved and seconded that the Education and Equal Opportunities Section of the Annual Report of the Executive be adopted (Annual Report of the Executive pages 84 – 136). There was one reference back as an amendment to this motion which was carried. This was carried as amended by 19.1.

Anti-Academies

Motion 20 (Carried as amended by 20.1), Moved by Dave Malbon (Havering), Seconded by Paul Vernell (South Gloucestershire)

This motion called for a continued fight against the privatisation of the secondary comprehensive education system. It instructed the Executive to do a number of things in order maintain the momentum of the campaign while at the same time making a greater effort to work with other education unions. The Amendment was accepted by the original proposers as a strengthening amendment. The amendment was passed unanimously.

PRIORITY MOTION (Carried unanimously); Testing & Assessment, Moved by Hazel Danson (Executive), Seconded by Max Hyde (Executive)

This motion called for the abolition of KS1 and KS2 SATs tests as well as the abolition of league tables on which schools are judged. There were 3 speakers who spoke in favour of the motion. Between them they gave the perspectives of a head, a classroom teacher and the effect the tests have on children. The current system of testing and league tables was summed up as being tantamount to national child abuse. The Union united in passing this priority motion unanimously. It was a very proud moment for everyone in the hall which was demonstrated by a standing ovation combined with the chant of ‘No more SATs!’. Some members of the auditorium were also wearing T-Shirts with the slogan; N – No U – Useless T – Tests Which I think portrayed the feeling in the hall very well. The Union is now awaiting the report from the expert group on Assessment as appointed by Ed Balls. This was due in February but is now delayed until May. After the report is issued the Executive will make a decision based on the findings in the report and what Ed Balls does with those recommendations. There was a call for a Ballot in the summer term for a boycott so as to send a clear message that as of September 2009, children would not be subjected to the drill of practising for tests.

Education: General Section

Motion 21 (Carried as amended by 21.1 and 21.2), SATs, Testing and League Tables, Moved by Philipa Harvey (Croydon), Seconded by Fran Postlethwaite (Barnsley)

This motion instructed the executive to work with other organisations and individuals to build a broad based campaign. This was along a similar line as the priority motion but contained a section on the use of APP and any other initiatives for assessment which are adding to the already heavy workload of teachers.

Opposition to Academy and Trust School Status

Motion 23 (Carried as amended by 23.1)

Moved by Kevin Courtney (Executive), Seconded by Alan Rutter (Executive)

Again this motion was on a similar theme as notion 20. This motion however covered Trust School Status which is just as big a threat to community comprehensives as the Academy programme. The speakers spoke about the continued fight to keep the private sector out of education. They called for a united campaign with other TUC unions to fight the programme. The Union believes in a good local school for every child. They highlighted that there was still no evidence that becoming a trust school or an Academy resulted in increased attainment amongst students. In fact there is evidence that trust schools and Academies are in fact failing in some areas. The amendment was accepted by the main proposer as a strengthening amendment. Conference passed amendment 23.1 and the main motion.

Democracy in Education

Motion 25 (Carried as amended by 25.1), Moved by Steve Johnston (Leeds), Seconded by Stefan Simms (Ealing)

This motion was essentially a call for schools to be held accountable locally. It called on the executive to campaign for schools to stay within local authority control so that they remain democratic. It called on local authorities to be given the power to decide more about local education provision on which they can then be held publically accountable to the electorate. Conference noted with concern the successive Government legislation in the past 20 years which has removed most powers from Local Authorities and has increased the centralisation of control over education funding etc.

Eradicating Poverty

Motion 26 (Carried as amended by 26.1), Moved by Robin Head (Somerset)

This motion asked the National Union to plan a large-scale billboard and press campaign for a reduction in child poverty. It highlighted the blight of child poverty in our communities and the educational effects poverty has on those children, lack of decent food It called for a campaign in the run up to the next General Election to put pressure on political parties to do something to alleviate child poverty.

The third session of conference was closed by President Martin Reed before the Private accounts section was started. Motions 28 – 32 which were the reports of the auditors, financial statement and the report of the Stoke Rochford Management Limited be received and adopted. These were all accepted by conference.

Sunday 12th April 2009: Fourth Session 9:45 – 1:00

At the beginning of this session the National, Regional and Wales Union Membership Development Awards were presented to the winners. These awards are for good practice in recruitment and retention. A full list of winners will be available on the Union website www.teachers.org.uk soon.

Employment Conditions and Rights

Motion 33 (Carried), Moved by Helen Andrews (Executive), Seconded by Judy Moorhouse (Executive)

It was moved and seconded that the Salaries, Superannuation, Conditions of Service, Health and Safety Section of the Annual Report of the Executive be adopted (Annual Report of the Executive pages 143 - 186).

Memorandum of the Executive – Teacher Mental Health Working Party

Motion 34 (Carried unanimously), Moved by Helen Andrews (Executive), Seconded by John Illingworth (Nottingham)

It was moved and seconded that the memorandum of the Teacher Mental Health Working Party be accepted by conference. This was carried unanimously and the working party were thanked for all of the good work that they are doing on behalf of the membership.

No Cover and a Qualified Teacher in Every Classroom

Motion 35 (Carried as amended by 35.1), Moved by Kevin Courtney (Camden), Seconded by Andrew Baisley (Camden)

Conference reaffirmed its belief that every class deserves a teacher and condemned the acceptance by government and other trade unions that it is acceptable for non-qualified staff to teach classes and in particular for absent teachers to be covered by cover supervisors. This motion was one which fired up a real passionate debate amongst delegates. Kevin Courtney asked conference to reject amendment 35.2 as it encouraged industrial action against non-teaching colleagues if they were being used in schools. This was accepted by conference and amendment 35.2 was defeated. The main motion was supported by amendment 35.1 which was considered a strengthening amendment. The motion with the amendment called for a limit to be placed on the use of non-qualified staff to first day in Primary and the first 3 days of any absence in secondary. To some delegates this was too much to concede but the motion was passed by a large majority.

Teachers’ Rights

Motion 36 (Carried as amended by 36.1 and 36.2)

This motion set out a list of rights which should be enjoyed by teachers as a matter of course. It called on the union to campaign for these rights to be included in contracts for teachers. By adopting this motion it reiterated the Unions belief that the time has come to return to the concept of a National Contract for teachers, as an organising and campaigning focus for the union – a contract to be fought for as a right of all teachers. Please see attached motion for the complete list of recommendations. Amendments 36.1 and 36.2 sought to clarify some of the language and figures used.

Workload, Pay and Class Sizes – A comprehensive Strategy

Motion 37 (Carried as amended by 37.1), Moved by Martin Powel Davies (Lewishham), Seconded by Phil Clarke (Lewes, Eastbourne and Wealden)

This motion instructs the Executive to draw up a comprehensive claim, in line with Union policy, to submit to the government, Welsh Assembly Government and the STRB that clearly sets out the linked objectives of: Our salary claim: A set of specific improvements to teachers’ working conditions: A phased reduction in class sizes; It also instructs the Executive to prepare members for a campaign of industrial action in support of such a claim with the option of balloting members for national strike action if no satisfactory progress is made in securing the Unions comprehensive claim.

Monday 13th April 2009 - Fifth Session 9:15 – 12:30

Education: Special Educational Needs Section

Pupil Referral Units and Exclusion

Motion 41 (Carried unanimously as amended by 41.1), Moved by Andy Pryor (North Somerset), Seconded by John Lockwood (North Warwickshire)

This motion called on the union to ensure that the quality of provision is recognised nationally. Members in these schools often feel left out of the system as they are often the only qualified member in a setting. The motion also called on the executive to protect the role of PRU’s from privatisation and to hold a conference during summer 2009 on Halting Mass Exclusions. Conference was saddened to hear that even after the wonderful intervention work done by PRU’s, a great number of schools were refusing to reintegrate or include these children in mainstream education.

Question and Answer Session for the Acting General Secretary

During this session Christine Blower answered questions on a number of issues. She answered the questions well and showed that she was able to handle questions and give answers which were well thought out and reasoned.

Strategy, Finance and Communications

Motion 42 (Carried), Moved by Jerry Glazier (Executive), Seconded by Goronwy Jones (Executive)

It was moved and seconded that the Co-ordination and Finance Section of the Annual Report of the Executive be adopted (Annual Report of the Executive pages 1 - 70).

Impact of the Economic Crisis

Motion 43 (Carried as amended by 43.1), Moved by Jerry Glazier (Executive), Seconded by Kevin Courtney (Executive)

This motion raised the subject of the use of the slogan ‘British jobs for British workers’. Conference deplored the use of such phrases as it was divisive and targeting the wrong people in the current economic climate. It called for the union to unite with other public sector workers in demanding fair pay, decent housing, and an end to wasteful privatisation in the public sector. Conference agreed that it was scandalous that figures such as Sir Fred Goodwin had his massive pension protected while other workers were having their pensions made almost worthless. It also called on the government to ensure that there would be no cuts to education spending. If banks can be given billions of pounds of public money then there must be money for schools and colleges.

Defending Public Services.

Motion 44 (Carried unanimously as amended by 44.1), Moved by Paula Champion (Cambridgeshire), Seconded by Martin Powel Davies (Lewisham)

This motion carried on from motion 43 by calling on the government to keep public services accountable locally. Conference reiterated the Unions stance against the privatisation of public services.

Salaries, Superannuation and Education Economics

Motion 45 (Carried as amended by 45.1 and 45.2), Salary Policy, Moved by Dave Clinch (Devon), Seconded by Joe Flynn (Croydon)

This motion provoked a range of responses from the delegates. While recognising that the pay campaign was a just campaign, conference agreed with the executive that due to external forces impacting on the economic climate it was right to refocus on other campaigns like workload. Some speakers did not feel that it was right to make a claim for a 10% pay increase when so many others in the country were struggling or losing their jobs. Other speakers felt that it was right that the union continued to fight for fair pay due to the below inflation pay increases from 2004 – 2008. The STRB has yet to announce its review of the pay increase scheduled for Sept 2009. It is currently set at 2.3% but could fall victim to a cut. Other public sector workers have already been advised that their pay award for this year will only be 0.5% instead of 1.9%.

Sixth Session 2:00 – 5:30

Education: Primary/Early Years Section

Motion 46 (Carried as amended by 46.1), Primary Workforce Classroom Protocol, Moved by Brian Swinton (East Riding of Yorkshire), Seconded by Simon Bissett (North Yorkshire)

This motion called for a clarification of the roles of workers in Primary classrooms. It welcomed Unisons accord which stated that teachers teach and support staff support. It called on the executive to work with other TUC affiliated unions to draw up a protocol based on the principle that a qualified teacher is present in the classroom and that the management of the classroom is under the direction of the teacher.

Early Years Education

Motion 47 (Carried unanimously as amended by 47.1 and 47.2), Moved by Hazel Danson (Executive), Seconded by Alex Kenny (Executive)

Equality Conferences

Motion 48 (Carried as amended by 48.1), Fighting for LGBT Rights, Moved by Dave Brinson (LGBT Teachers Conference), Seconded by Claire Jenkins (LGBT Teachers Conference)

This motion was broadly based on campaigning against the unofficial stance of the BNP on homosexuality. It called on the executive to campaign nationally and locally all forms of discrimination faced by the LGBT community. The writer of the motion rightly mentioned that the Union had a long and proud tradition of promoting issues of equality and supporting LGBT members.

,u>Black Members Structure

Motion 49 (Carried ), Moved by Susan Virgo (Black Teachers’ Conference), Seconded by Carol Graham (Black Teachers’ Conference)

Equality Section

Anti-Racism

Motion 50 (Carried as amended by 50.1, 50.2 and 50.3), Moved by Andrew Stone (East London), Seconded by Michael Dance (Redbridge)

This motion also called on the Union to use the much welcomed political fund to actively campaign against the racist and fascist propaganda being handed out by the BNP. Conference also reaffirmed its commitment to working with Unite Against Fascism and Love Music Hate Racism.

Tuesday 14th April 2009- Seventh Session 9:15 – 1:00

Education: General Section (continued)

Motion 52 (Carried unanimously), Moved by Nina Franklin (Executive), Seconded by Mick Lerry (Executive)

It was moved and seconded that the Annual Report of the Executive (as amended) be adopted and printed for circulation.

Acting General Secretary’s Address to conference.

A copy of Christine Blower’s speech to conference will be available online at www.teachers.org.uk soon.

Motion 53 - Mr Martin Reed motioned that the best thanks of Conference be, and was thereby given, to The Right Honourable The Lord Mayor of Cardiff, Councillor Kate Lloyd and other representatives of the town for the cordial reception given to Conference.

Motion 54 - Mr Martin Reed motioned that the best thanks of Conference be, and thereby given, to all those associated with the running of conference.

Motion 55 - It was moved by Hilary Bills that the best thanks of Conference be given to the President, Mr Martin Reed, for his able conduct in the Chair.