NEU Conference 2019

Conference got off to a positive start on Sunday night with some Welsh delegates (both legacy A.T.L. & N.U.T.) attending the launch meeting of the new N.E.U. Left on the Sunday evening. There were interesting and galvanising talks by Jen Johnson (Chicago Teachers’ Union) and Paul Mc Garr (N.E.U.) .

Wales had high profile at Conference this year with a lot more Welsh speakers than at previous Conferences; many of whom were first time speakers at National conference and with a very healthy ratio of female/male speakers (I counted 11 women and 5 men!). Well done all who spoke on behalf of Wales.

I was the first Wales speaker and the topic again was School Funding. I highlighted (again) the ways in which funding is even more problematic and hard to deal with in Wales due to the many funding streams and 22 different formulas for each LEA.

Conference was set alight by a spirited debate over a boycott of high-stakes testing in Primary schools in England during the 2^nd. Session on Monday. The differences were over tactics not principles and the decision to ballot was passed by 148,000 votes to 115,000.  This vote has implications for our stance here in Wales on primary tests – we plan to draft boycott motions for Conference Cymru.

The important amendment to Motion 18 was passed, which commits N.E.U. Cymru to ballot for strike action in Wales if teachers’ pay falls behind England; is not fully funded. Or fails to embody pay portability – thanks to Caroline Butchers and Hannah O’Neill for their heartfelt speeches.

Jeremy Corbyn’s speech opened the 4^th Session to a rapturous reception – particularly when he told us that a new Labour Govt. would get rid of Primary S.A.T.’s and baseline in England. He gave details of the proposed National Education Service for England and Angela Rayner was on the rostrum in support.

Sam Rogers and Roz Goddard gave excellent speeches outlining the concerns we have about the new Welsh curriculum and workload. Da Iawn Roz on your first ever speech! A job well done! Bethan Jones, Lesley Tipping and David Healey all spoke well on the devolution of pay.

The most impassioned Welsh speeches were by our Supply activists, as the Supply motion was picked up again in unfinished business. Angela and Sheila’s speeches were particularly effective and congratulations to Liz McLean and Denbighshire for drafting a motion which managed to combine an appeal to English Districts and plenty of details on the breakthrough here in Wales. The changes to supply procurement in Wales is a testament to the tenacity of the campaigning and lobbying of our supply teacher activists.  We now need to mobilise members and replicate this in cuts campaigning!

There were problems – it’s difficult to get sufficient prioritisation for Welsh amendments and our amendment to the pay motion, which was put forward by Monmouthshire (21.4) was not taken and neither was Tawe Afan Nedd’s amendment to the Mental Health motion (29.4). We will need to be much more organised in putting motions to National conference in the future and not rely on amendments.

There were a plethora of fringe meetings as usual and I spoke at one of the S.T.A. hosted fringe meetings – described by Alex Kenny as “one of the finest line ups we have ever put together for a Conference fringe meeting”

All in all the inaugural NEU conference was a very successful one for Wales and we must ensure that districts continue to send delegates to the National conference as well as our Welsh conference. We share many issues with England and it is important that we continue to debate and share good practice with them on the relevant issues. Remember that we cannot make policy on International solidarity issues or equality issues at Welsh conference and so we need to be part of that at National conference. Many delegates were disappointed with the absence of any report from our Welsh conference and this is something we should seek to redress before next year.