Executive NEUs June 2023

Special Executive (8 June)

The Executive agreed the following in respect of the Support Staff dispute and Motion 36:

• To now move forward to a formal ballot of support staff members in England alongside teacher members in England – to open on Friday 23 June 2023 and close on Friday, 11 August
• the teacher dispute in Wales has been settled and we cannot and should not be in a position where we are asking support staff members in Wales to lose pay fighting a battle on funding which, without the action of teacher members, they cannot possibly win
• In Northern Ireland, the Executive member argued strongly not to include NI members on the basis of the current context in Northern Ireland, and in particular the work done by the union there to re-enter the Irish TUC
• To ballot our support staff members in England on inadequate levels of school funding linked to the threat of support staff job losses
• To concentrate first on winning the support staff ballot so that teacher and support staff members can take action together in England in the autumn in a dispute over inadequate funding
• To arrange meetings with the NJC unions, Unison, Unite and GMB to discuss paragraph 54 of the TUC dispute panel award to set up a consultation process involving NEU prior to the next round of NJC pay negotiations
• Following the ballot, in the autumn term, to write to the TUC and NJC unions, including the text of motion 36, and ask for a series of meetings with them to discuss how to take forward implementation of the motion, to discuss what implications it has for our current agreement with them, and being clear this is a Conference decision on which we must act.

A summary of the feedback on the first group session was circulated to the Executive and will inform ongoing strategic planning.  At the full Executive meeting, a detailed plan was agreed to deliver the support staff vote, including:

• Branches sent the weekly communications grid to branch secretaries
• Dashboard will be available for all reps and branches
• National Zoom meeting for all branch officers, reps and ballot volunteers to launch the support staff ballot
• National Zoom meeting for all support staff members to launch the support staff ballot.
• Branches to be encouraged to hold a local reps & ballot volunteers briefing and a separate members’ meeting as soon as possible to encourage reps and ballot volunteers to hold members’ meetings and to speak with every support staff member.
• Electronic and printed materials will be provided to branches to publicise their own meetings
• A PowerPoint for Officers, Reps and Ballot Volunteers will be prepared and distributed in the Officer Update and members’ NEU Update.
• Branches should have a draft target list of schools they aim to visit during the term and should contact regional/Wales offices if they need support with school visits.

Executive meeting (17 June)

JGS Report

• Groundswell of new rep activity; reinvigoration of previously moribund districts/branches; not an accident – a vindication of the VE:VE strategy
• Recognition that we must focus our efforts and resources on what members are concerned about and make strategic, evidence-based decisions to inform our choices – we cannot do everything
• Significant developments since the Conference resolution to hold three days of action – not least the leak of the STRB report recommending 6.5% – member feedback is that this would be seen as a success and the result of our members’ action
• The priority is to keep members united behind the campaign and prepared to take significant action alongside other unions in the autumn
• On these bases, the recommendation is to call members out for one day with a focus on the Government releasing the STRB report and fully funding any offer; members in 6FC not to be included on the basis that w/c 3 July is recruitment week for the sector/across all colleges

Following a lengthy debate, the recommendations from the SC: B&N were agreed unamended:

1. To call two days of strike action of all teacher members in maintained schools and sixth form colleges in England on Wednesday 5 July 2023 and Friday 7 July 2023.
2. To call a London demonstration on Wednesday 5 July 2023
3. On the days of action, to undertake local “build the ballot” events, rallies and demonstrations.

The Executive also endorsed all Strategy Committee reports from March and agreed:

• To repeat the consultation on the reorganisation of the Powys District (following a very low turnout) with emphasis on using it as an organising opportunity with an aspiration to deliver higher member engagement
• Not renew the contract with Lighthouse (financial advisors) when it ends on 31 August 2023 and instead offer Lighthouse services through myRewards. Lighthouse has a pre-existing relationship with Parliament Hill, the company that provides the NEU myRewards platform. This option ensures that those NEU members who still wish to access these services can do so.  Parliament Hill is registered with the FCA and would take full responsibility for compliance;
• The extension of the contract term with Parliament Hill from 3 to 5 years for £28,750 + VAT pa (to July 2026)
• Noted the Finance Report; with membership income higher than budgeted for leading to a favourable variance of £1,846,323. Higher than budgeted costs driven by the pay campaign in particular has created an overall deficit of £457,345; 
• Noted the draft budget; with a specific contingency fund for pay and workload campaign activity and a contingency for any General Election spending.  Consequential higher costs with membership influx such as Educate and reps training budget. There is some additional work to be carried out with budget holders, for example in relation to legal costs, before the final budget is presented at the July meeting for final sign off
• Hardship Funds:
• Districts, who can afford to, are encouraged to contribute to the national strike fund;
• Guidance is provided to districts recommending that they apply a flat rate payment of £45/£50 to requests from their Local Hardship Fund.
• Key dates for Annual Conference
• Deadline for motions 03-Dec
• Motions sent to districts for priority voting 07 January
• Deadline for conference committee nominations 06 February
• Deadline for delegates & observers to be submitted 06 February
• Deadline for priority voting 06 February
• Accounts, last year’s minutes and Exec report sent to districts 13 February
• Deadline for amendments to motions, standing orders and Exec report 06 March
• Deadline for updates to delegate lists 20  March
• Agenda sent to delegates 20 March
• Deadline for questions to the Treasurer 27 March
• The Committee considered complaints received about Executive elections in districts 4 and 8. The Committee noted that analysis of the process by Civica demonstrated that inclusion of second and third preference votes from the spoilt papers in the candidates’ totals would have made no difference to the outcome and the same candidates would have been elected.  The Executive agreed that a review of the format of the ballot paper in future elections where guarded candidates have been elected by rule is undertaken.
• The Executive agreed not to fill the two Officer vacancies effective from 1 September (Past President and Membership & Equalities Officer)
• The Executive agreed the following revised protocol for Executive attendance:  
• The Covid-related reasons for remote attendance are now lifted for all except those who are immuno-compromised.
• That remote attendance is offered to those who are immuno-compromised or those who have an impairment.
• That the AGS, Business Services is authorised to agree/decline all requests for online attendance at Executive meetings.