September Executive NEUs

Joint General Secretaries’ Report

Schools/colleges re-opening

• High media profile and high levels member engagement as we support the safe opening of schools for members and pupils;
• Over 3,000 checklists completed; with more than a third being revised – demonstrating widespread understanding by reps and officers that the checklist works as a ‘living’ document;
• The Union’s longstanding demand for the Government to plan for alternatives to full opening – in the event of a second wave or local lockdowns – was finally realised with the announcement late on 28 August after the JGS zoom call with reps;
• Currently 10 percent of local authorities fall within the three categories (areas of intervention; areas of enhanced support and areas of concern) with the four tiers of action only operating in the highest category and if other measures not effective;
• Union working on ways in which branches be part of the local engagement and how data is best provided to branches in the three category areas – to assist and not to scaremonger;
• All underpinned by our 10-point recovery plan – our ‘plan B’ – reflected in much of ISage’s report;
• Protection of CEV staff clear (collective action); CV/at risk staff more of a challenge with S44 inadequate (and individual);; cite RA; support from GP and school groups.

Other matters:

• OFSTED’s announcement that they would undertake ‘visits’ this term to schools/colleges to ascertain how schools and colleges were helping pupils back into full time education, with a return to full inspections in January 2021– unnecessary, unwise, unwelcome and badly timed;
• Joint union collaboration including the NASUWT working well with the joint call for an urgent enquiry into the exam fiasco, scrapping of performance league tables this year and a robust contingency plan in place for 2021;
• Separate NEU demands to Secretary of State underpinned by the petition – garnering over 30k signatures to date; currently not making longer term demands and strategy to be informed by the work of the Commission if agreed at Special Conference;
• Joint pay spine materials now circulated to reps and discussed at the zoom call on 28 August;
• Union asserting ourselves in the vital debate around the impact of C19 on child poverty.

The Interim Standing Orders were adopted with an undertaking that the voting functions available on ‘zoom’ would be explored for the next meeting.

The Membership Report was noted with headline figure of 86% employed members and that from April 2020 the union introduced a monthly lapse routine which should even out the lapse activity throughout the year henceforth.

Elections – the Executive congratulated Amanda Martin on her election to the Conference Committee and Emma Mort on her election to the Officer Steering Group.

Complaint under rule – the Officers agreed to refer the cases against a local officer and a member to the NDC.    It was also agreed that both members would be suspended (in accordance with the Officers’ powers under paragraph 3.3 Appendix A of the Rules) pending the hearing of the complaint. The members would continue to be entitled to support on employment issues during their suspension.  

It was agreed that the Union would not register to speak against any of the motions on the TUC Final  Agenda (to be debated by the General Council in closed session);  the Officers guidance to the delegation (meeting on 12 September) is that the Union would support all motions at this stage, with the caveat that a number of composites are yet to be finalised. 

GPC Urgent Report – The Executive noted the GPC 050920/2/2a financial report to 30 June 2020 (GPC 050920/2/2a) and the Financial impact of Covid 19 with current estimates showing a net reduction in budgeted expenditure of £1.28m (GPC 050920/2/2b). The Executive also agreed:

• A series of recommendations in relation to the Pensions Project Report (GPC 050920/3).  
• The Standing Orders for Special Conference, including a maximum of two amendments per district (GPC 050920/4). 
• a staff pay award weighted towards Band 4 – 8 of the pay-scale and in line with inflation forecasts.  The Executive agreed that the fixed term GDPR Officer post becomes a permanent substantive post in the IT Department staffing structure
• A Protocol for representation on outside bodies and register of interests (GPC 050920/8) – it was noted that the Protocol was for all representatives, including non-Executive members and it would be disseminated accordingly

The Executive agreed the recommendations from SC: Union Strength on Sector and Equality Section Conference Business that recommendation 2 be agreed. It was also agreed to survey members in the Channel Islands over the proposal to move the district to the South East Region.

The Executive agreed the recommendations from SC: B&N – Pay in schools & academies – teachers paid less than the national advisory scales should move to those points immediately, while those paid more should receive the appropriate national pay increase in those points. The campaign work  agreed with a focus on identifying problem employers and supporting members and on securing NEU policy on progression in LA schools as part of the work to get rid of PRP in all schools. Pensions – Deferred Choice option should be endorsed in the NEU response to the Government consultation. Supply members – For the officers of the Supply OF to undertake a review into how our structures support supply members which would involve surveying/meeting with key stakeholders (including Branch Secretaries, Regional Staff, Supply Officers and Supply OF members) with recommendations brought back to the Executive for consideration.

The Executive endorsed the decisions of the SC: MDSC held on 5 March, 23 April, 21 May and 25 June and paid tribute to the members of the Sub-Committee for their consideration of legal appeals through the lockdown period.

General Motions on Turkey and Palestine Resources were agreed by the Executive.