June NEUs

Joint General Secretaries’ Report

During their introduction Mary and Kevin introduced the NEU 10-point Education Recovery Plan and the OSG discussed the implementation and the way the NEU have so far been on the right side of history regarding decisions made and stances taken. Our 10-point plan for education addresses the needs of all children and young people. Many will be feeling isolated in their homes, so the NEU proposes a summer holiday offer and a focus on children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Our proposals are far reaching. They require a significant additional investment in education which is needed to meet the challenges of an uncertain future. The four strands of activity were also noted and discussed:

· local tactics for a national strategy of safety

· winning the NEU’s vision of Education for this term and in September

· winning at the workplace, involving reps, building relevant policy

· the big politics over inequality

Delegations to Palestine and Cuba

The OSG agreed the process for selecting the Executive members of the delegations to Cuba and Palestine. These are still scheduled to take place in October half-term but the International team are monitoring the situation in relation to travel arrangements etc. It is possible that either or both delegations may be postponed until February or October 2021.

For the three Executive places on the Palestine delegation, the OSG agreed to extend the pool of members, originally agreed in May 2019, to all members. A call for candidates would be emailed during w/c 15 June and If an election is required, it will take place from 23-30 June. A similar timetable was agreed to select the place on the Cuba delegation.

District & Branch decision-making

The OSG discussed the position on holding meetings during the lockdown and in principle agreed that due to the ongoing government restrictions on face to face meetings these meetings now need to take place via digital platforms. The OSG considered some initial areas for guidance and have asked for draft protocols to be prepared. There will be a discussion about the guidance and the protocols via the District and Branch Secretaries National Council and through any regional and Wales local secretaries’ meetings that are held during the next two weeks. The draft guidance will be discussed at the strategy committee meetings on Wednesday 24 June so that a final decision can be made at the next OSG on 25 June. The aim will then be to communicate the information to all local secretaries by Monday 29 June and to make it available on the Union’s website. It was noted that there was a variety of practice across regions and Wales in relation to holding

regular meetings with local branch and district secretaries. Avis Gilmore undertook to take this matter forward on behalf of the JGSs.

Formal Conference Business

The formal business of conference consists of the adoption of the Executive report including any rule changes, the adoption of the Union accounts and the election of the conference committee for the following conference. The Rules dictate that Conference should normally be held over the Easter period or at another time provided that no period longer than 15 months shall elapse between annual conferences. In response to a question from the Certification Officer we have already indicated that due to government regulations we cannot meet this rule. The OSG agreed to arrange a zoom conference call with all Conference 2020 delegates to allow for an address by the President and the Joint General Secretaries in conjunction with a postal or electronic ballot of Conference 2020 delegates as soon as possible so that the formal conference business could be completed by the end of the academic year.

It was noted that this would not preclude a special conference to discuss motions, at a later date, should the government regulations allow it and the Executive feel it necessary.

TUC Equality Committees

The Officers met prior to the OSG and having looked again at the process used to reach the decision regarding the TUC committee elections. They agreed that they were not as fully informed of the role they were undertaking, or the details of the candidates, as they might have been. The Officers’ decisions at the time were made in good faith, within the constraints of the circumstances. In hindsight, had the Officers been more fully informed, they might have made different decisions. The Officers fully recognised the upset and discomfort this has caused amongst some of our members. With this additional report, the OSG endorsed the Officers’ decision taken at their meeting on 3 June in respect of the TUC committee elections.

Funding Request – People’s Assembly

The OSG agreed to a donation of £10k in principle, subject to confirmation about the activities to be funded. It was also agreed to offer to publicise the many People’s Assembly events to local officers via the e-Bulletin and other networks.

Funding Request – Education International

In view of the savings made within the international budget as a result of the restrictions on travel and cancellation of events, the OSG agreed to make a contribution of the maximum $10,000 (£8,100 equivalent) to the EI COVID-19 Response Solidarity Fund.

Timing of Strategy Committees and Executive Briefings

In response to feedback from Executive members, it was agreed that the Strategy Committee chairs would review the timing of their meetings and the JGSs would do similarly for Executive Briefings.