Standing Up For Standards: Workplace Representatives and the Union’s national strategy.

The attacks on teachers have included: Academies and Free Schools Pay and Conditions across UK The Education Act McCormac Review in Scotland English Baccalaureate Welsh Assembly Government policies Northern Irish parity campaign Testing and Assessment New Ofsted Framework Cuts – Job insecurity Other factors increasing pressure on teachers…………… Funding – Single Funding Formula. Pension ‘reform’ ITT/Teaching Schools/Professionalism Pay Freeze Beecroft’s ‘Employers Charter’

INDUSTRIAL ACTION Trade dispute over workload, pensions, pay, including pay progression, conditions of service and job loss Action began with participation in TUC Day of Action on 30 November 2011; continued with action short of strike action from 1 December 2011 NASUWT is the only union taking continuous industrial action Action to raise standards is pupil, parent and public friendly 30 November one day of discontinuous strike action 1 December continuous action short of strike action 26 September 2012 – Action escalated with new instructions issued to members

Action short of strike action Action may differ between workplaces to reflect differing contracts/nations, but the underlying aim is reducing workload by working to contract. PPA Time Leadership and Management time Work/Life Balance Dedicated Headship Time Cover School Calendar and Timetable Gained Time Lunchtime Supervision Invigilation Admin & Clerical Tasks Performance Management Classroom Observation

The escalated NASUWT Action, coordinated with the NUT, aims to challenge: unacceptable and excessive workload pressures which are damaging to teachers’ health and wellbeing, undermining teaching and learning and threatening educational standards; the failure of the Government to carry out the valuation of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme, the imposition of unfair contribution increases and changes to make teachers work to 68 or higher to get a full pension; the Government’s proposals for local pay and performance related pay and the continuation of the pay freeze for teachers; the attack on teachers’ jobs and national terms and conditions of service, including those arising from the privatisation and academisation of schools; threats to jobs arising from funding cuts and education and curriculum reforms.

Conference 2012 determined the next phase: ‘Conference regrets that in the face of the vicious and unjustified assault on teachers, it will be essential to intensify the industrial action campaign. Conference is committed to further extending the current national action instructions to restore teachers’ professionalism by attacking policies and practices which de-professionalise teachers, including punitive fallout from the inspection and accountability regimes. Conference endorses work by the National Executive to set out the next phase in the Union’s industrial action campaign, including the escalation of action short of strike action and strike action. Conference commits to continuing to work with the wider trade union movement across the UK to secure the best interests of teachers.‘

Issues for NASUWT Workplace Representatives Local associations need to ensure: consistency of application - National Executive Members need to establish working practices with local associations; press comments, correspondence, newsletters, bulletins need to convey the national narrative about the action.

How does the action link to the work of NASUWT Workplace Representatives? NASUWT Workplace Representatives are: key public faces in the Union the immediate contact with members, management and parents co-ordinators of action within the workplace contact with school management about Action Key Issue: the schools likely to have biggest problems are also likely to be those where the NASUWT’s organisation isn’t as effective as it should be. Question - How best to organise and promote the Action in your workplace?