April NEUs

JGS report

There has been a step-change in the Union’s status and role.  At all levels, the Union has moved swiftly to respond to the C19 crisis

The JGSs summarised the various initiatives taken:

• Telephone ‘town halls’; first was attended by c2.5k members; 2^nd by c3.5k members; 3rd for supply members and had 1k and 4th had 700
• Zoom calls to 200 on local officers’ call; 500 on workplace reps call
• Call hub to workplace reps – 4,602 calls attempted so far with 1,544 conversations with reps (33.6% convo rate)
• Three very popular You Tube videos for members and parents
• the launch of a microsite for parents with resources and messaging
• Regularly updated FAQs aimed at different sections of our membership widely shared via social media
• ‘what we say today’ feature updated daily
• regular meetings with our Regional Secretaries and AGS team and of a special Covid 19 response team to coordinate this work
• consciously aiming at a negotiating approach at school and college level – encouraged and led by local officer and workplace rep zoom calls
• Created a ‘winning in the workplace’ web page where we also included examples of good agreements
• encouraging local officers to set up WhatsApp groups for their reps and currently experimenting with Guild groups
• “out there” early on – saying that vulnerable staff and staff who live with vulnerable people should withdraw from work which has proved a real mobiliser – position won widely
• Where no agreement reached, reps encouraged to organise the sending of a letter as an entry level tactic
• we have aimed at moral high ground – calling for volunteers to do the school rotas, speaking about how schools and staff can support vulnerable children
• used the joint union advice to good effect.

In discussions with Government, our approach has been solely evidence based – in contrast with the NASUWT ‘five demands’. Our petition has attracted 180k signatures.  Initial meeting with DFE to be held on 24 April to discuss how and when schools can open safely.

Most challenging areas include independent schools with threat of liquidation for some or parental pressure to re-open prematurely.  Supply members (four cohorts: agency, LA pool, umbrella company or directly engaged) face different challenges. Union pressing for schools to continue to pay supply teachers – easier with long term engagements; umbrella companies resisting furlough due to increased costs of holiday pay; surveying all supply members and responses will inform discussions with Government and advice given.

Finance Matters – Membership income budget has been profiled based on a steady membership throughout the year – more work ongoing to interrogate membership profile and subs income. Overall, year-end projection for headquarters budget is for an underspend against the year to date budget costs (4.1/230420).  The OSG received an initial estimation of identified cost savings due to the closure of NEU offices and our response to the CV19 pandemic.  Lost revenue includes a ‘rent holiday’ for one Hamilton House tenant for Q2 and another tenant will be released from their lease 3 months early –  lost revenue of £15k. Temporary allowance for staff working from home will cost £25k per month; additional £60k cost for provision of online courses for NEU members; increase in equipment/office supplies – current initial estimate for IT spend £20k (to be offset against fall in staff expenses); additional costs incurred for conferences (other than annual) £20k. Savings: the saving from the cancellation of Annual Conference amounts to £586k; the cancellation of other conferences has created a saving of £77k; hotel and travel – average monthly spend of £42k; cancellation of summer term meetings, events and courses – £500k; current estimates show a net reduction in budgeted expenditure of £1.082m. Budgeted deficit for the year was £1.054m, so  estimate small surplus of £28k for the financial year to 31 August 2020. The Hamilton House refurbishment project has been paused during the period of NEU office closures; envisage a small increase in cost of approximately £1,100.00 excl. VAT.

The OSG ratified the subscription increase of 2.75%.

District & Branch elections – there are a small number of districts where for a variety of reasons there is no longer time to carry out an election within the timescales dictated by rule.  The OSG agreed that the elections are held as early as is practicable in the summer term with the support of region/Wales staff to facilitate the participation of all members in an electronic election.  As the term of office does not commence until 1 September 2020 this is possible and it is likely to be viewed by the nominees, their supporters and the membership as the most democratic option.

National Hardship Fund – the OSG agreed the application criteria and process and further agreed to relax £500 cap for District donations – maximum £2k for NHF donations only; that the national Union to underwrite aggregate district donations up to £50k for first month, then review to evaluate application numbers; a paper would be brought to the next meeting with proposals to permit regional/Wales council donations to the Fund. The composition of the Panel was agreed.

TUC delegation – OSG agreed that the 10 Executive places would be filled by seeking nominations; candidates to provide a 250-word statement; if contested, electronic elections; possible need for guarded places to ensure 50% women across delegation.

Operation of OSG as committee of urgency – OSG agreed that vice-chairs can substitute for chairs whilst OSG meeting as committee of urgency and Strategy Committees to continue to meet the day before OSG with consideration given to AGSs being present; members can raise C19 issues within remit of their committee as well as commenting on OSG agenda.  Monthly ‘town hall/zoom’ JGS briefing for full Executive – dates to be circulated.

Executive Review Group – consideration was deferred until the Executive reconvenes.

Enfield – request to amend the state education branch and district election rules was declined by the OSG on the basis of the extant JEC decision that only rules relating to quorum (over 10 minimum) and officer roles could be changed and that the proposed change would blur the distinction between the district and the state education branch.

It was agreed that the crowdfunding request from Care4Calais would be circulated to local districts via the e-Bulletin encouraging support. A paper would be brought to the next meeting with the balance in donations budget and identifying a cache of funding for C19 specific donations.  A request from Lancaster & Morecambe to approve spending of £600 for a new laptop to facilitate operation of the district during lockdown was agreed.