Executive NEU’s January 2023

JGS Report

The JGSs shared the predicted ballot result with the Executive on a confidential basis and paid tribute to the energy and commitment of reps, local officers, Executive members and staff in delivering the results.

The internal data systems ensured that reps, local officers and field staff could focus their efforts on members yet to vote. 

• Reps had conversations with over 70k members;
• over 20k members were contacted by ‘phone;
• 4k reps have taken every step we asked of them;
• we issued 48,500 replacement ballot papers and the ballot enquiries team (staff volunteers) responded to 25k emails.   

JGSs summarised the arrangements for releasing the ballot result on 16 January with a zoom call with the Executive and local officers at c3pm and a Facebook live event for members at 5pm.  The announcement would not be triumphalist but sombre – our members want to be in their classes supporting their pupils and the Government can avert the strikes by resolving our dispute.

Mary reported on the meeting between the Secretary of State, G Keegan, and education unions held on 9 January which lasted 1.5 hours at which the SoS had brought nothing to the table.  The Executive endorsed the proposed pattern of action:

• National action on 1 February, 15 March (budget day) and 16 March
• 28 February – Northern, North West and Yorkshire & Humber
• 1 March – West Midlands, East Midlands and Eastern
• 2 March – London, South East and South West

Discussions will begin next week with branch and districts on local activities; planning a national rally on 15 March in London and will be encouraging every branch and district to organise transport.

In response to comments from Executive members, the JGSs confirmed:

• Strike FAQs would be updated and available on website from 16 January
• Segmented advice to support staff, supply members, headteachers will be produced

Both BNC and SC:US brought reports on the pay campaign to the Executive which endorsed the Campaign messages and the pattern of strike action and programme of activities

Other matters of report – the Union’s formal response to the GMB/UNISON complaint had been submitted to the TUC and a dispute hearing date was awaited; the ballot of members in NI for strike action (in addition to on-going ASOS) was closing on 10 February; confirmation that the Schools Bill had been abandoned – defeated by a coalition including the Union.

The Executive also endorsed all Strategy Committee reports from November 2022 and agreed the following:

• TUC matters – motions agreed for – Disabled Workers Conference 2023 – More Disabled workers in education;  LGBT+ Workers Conference 2023 – Standing Up for why inclusion is good for everyone; Young Workers Conference 2023 1 – Tackling Child hunger and Tackling Child Poverty; Mairead Canavan was elected to attend TUC Women’s Conference;
• Draft definition of transphobia on which Counsel’s advice would be sought to ensure legality before referral to SC:US and SC:MD at a joint meeting in February cycle to consider implementation measures before final text of the definition agreed at a future Executive
• To endorse the C4C and PCS policy position on safe passage for refugees;
• Finance/variance report for the period to November 2022; an overall adverse variance for the period was noted at £1,122,788 primarily due to the additional spending in relation to the national pay ballot.  Draft Final Accounts required some small final amendments and it was agreed to authorise the National Treasurer and Chair of GPC to sign off the final version for submission of the AR21. Our external auditors, BDO, attended and confirmed that the NEU’s finances are in a good state and good controls are in place
• two issues in relation to Local Hardship Funds where the district is moribund or a DS is unable to convene a quorate meeting and approved the following actions in such circumstances; –
• Regional Councils are asked to assist and set-up hardship funds for moribund districts.
• Where necessary, hardship funds are set up despite a meeting not being quorate. This is provided the meeting is overseen by an Executive member who is satisfied that the reason for the meeting not being quorate is not due to members being unsupportive of a hardship fund being set-up. (retrospective if already in place and all decisions are recorded in writing)
• Temporary removal of the expenditure limit that can be agreed by a district committee (regulation 32 of the LFR) to ensure there are no barriers to decision-making for the purposes of expenditure related to the national industrial action non-budgeted expenditure can be agreed by the district committee but must be reported to the next quorate general meeting
• Revised standing orders (relating to submission of speakers’ cards in advance of Conference
• donation of £80,000 to Stand Up to Racism, with £25,000 being paid from the Political Fund, and £55,000 from the general donations budget
• Eligibility to vote in Executive Sector/Equality seat elections – that in accordance with Rule 23.6, Rules 13.14(g) and 13.15(h) are interpreted so that the closing date is the date voting commences as set out in Rule 13.16.1 which was amended at Annual Conference 2022.
• Note the announcement that the joint health unions are withdrawing from their pay review body process and agreed to approach education union counterparts to explore the possibility of a similar joint position being adopted until there is some resolution to our current pay dispute for 2022-23; review participation in STRB process at the next meeting
• an urgent priority for regional staff, by actively contacting elected branch officers to gather the relevant information
• Louise Regan, Louise Lewis and Dominic Coughlin were elected to the new Working Group (supporting Black Members); Wendy Hardy was elected to the Retired Members OF