Executive NEUs July 23

JGS Report – Special Executive

The Joint General Secretaries reported on the recent developments in the pay campaign.

• It has now been confirmed to us that the review body has recommended a 6.5% award for all teachers, and 6.5% on all allowances.
• That the funding for the award makes it affordable for the vast majority of schools.  The government is committed to £500 million extra funding between now and April 2024, on top of the £2 billion the NEU achieved last October with the relaunch of its school cuts campaign.  And a further £900m for schools and £285m for FE/6^th form collegesfor the next financial year 2024 to 2025 and each year thereafter.
• It is the biggest pay award that our members would have received since the introduction of the Upper Pay Spine in 2000.
• That the government has confirmed in writing that funding for the award would not come out of front-line school budgets, nor post 16 budgets, nor SEND budgets nor capital spending budgets for schools.

The JGSs emphasised that this offer will be realised only if it agrees to recommend it to members as the best achievable through negotiation.  If Executive makes no recommendation or recommends rejection of the offer it will be withdrawn by government.

The Executive agreed the following:

Recommendation 1

That the NEU is a lay led union and as such members have the democratic right to vote on whether they accept or reject the potential offer.

In order to put the offer to teacher members in England for their democratic decision, the Executive will recommend the offer to members as the best deal that can be achieved through negotiation.

To be clear with members that a rejection of the offer will necessitate a strong intensification of the pattern of action in the autumn term, which will be decided by the Executive at its meeting on 2September.

Recommendation 2

That support staff members will be consulted on the funding element only of the teacher pay offer.

Recommendation 3

That the Executive note that there is a separate discussion in government on post 16 funding.  If that results in increased funding for the sixth form college sector the NEU will recommence negotiations with the SFCA to improve its current pay offer to members.

If there is no increase in funding and no increased pay offer for sixth form college teacher members, a pattern of strike action for the autumn term will be agreed at the Executive meeting on 2 September. The Executive will also need to consider at that meeting the timescales for a re-ballot of teacher members in sixth form colleges.

Recommendation 4

If Executive agrees to the recommendations above, an all-member zoom meeting will be held on Monday 17^th July at 5pm where the offer will be explained to them, and their questions answered.   The zoom will be supported by essential information on the NEU web page, including explanations on funding, FAQs and a revised set of pay scales.

The electronic consultative ballots (one for teacher members in England and one for support staff members in England) will open on Tuesday 18 July and close at 4pm on Friday 28 July.

The Executive also endorsed the recommendations from SC:B&N:

• that a strong intensification of the pattern of action would entail, at least, a greater total number of days in a shorter period of time than previously and that our member communications throughout the pay consultation, including the all-member Zoom on Monday 17 July, should explain ‘strong intensification of the pattern of action’ in those terms.
• member communications on the pay consultation also continue to remind members to vote in the teachers’ re-ballot and support staff ballots;

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

• Powys Consultation Rerun – Supporting Moribund Districts – the Executive agreed that the union engage in a 12-month organising campaign to reinvigorate the branch and districts, with a view to a second consultation if required in Autumn 2024. 
• The Finance Report showing that actual income has created a positive variance of £2,577,410 against the budgeted income. As total actual expenditure is higher than budgeted there is a small negative variance of £840,072.
• the revisions to the draft budget following work carried out by the Finance Team the budgeted surplus has increased from £231,051 to £761,927 compared to the draft budget presented in June.
• that communication is sent out to Treasurers and via the e-Bulletin alerting them to the National Strike Fund and inviting them to apply for payments out of the National Strike Fund to meet claims made to their Local Hardship Fund.
• that the subsistence rates will increase from 1 September in line with the membership subscription rates increase (Breakfast £8.66; Lunch £12.47; Dinner £35.00)
• Staff Pension Scheme Triennial Valuation – noted the initial valuation results proposed by the Trustees and what this could mean for Employer contributions; what the results might look like if we successfully challenge the prudence in some of the assumptions, and what this would mean for Employer contributions
• that First Acturial are authorised to start negotiations with the Trustees on the basis the Employer is not seeking to increase aggregate contributions (between future service and deficit recovery).  First Actuarial will report back once we a response to the initial proposals has been received from the Trustees.
• that an offer of 5% is made to the staff unions in full and final settlement of the 2023 pay award
• In accordance with the 2023 Conference Resolution – Black Members’ Voices in the Union’s decision Making – Increasing Diversity, Inclusion, and the Voice of all members – the remit of the OSG amended to include the three equality and three sector seatholders with effect from September
• In respect of the sale of the Wandsworth office (the old London Regional Office),  agreed to pursue the possibility of selling the property by auction.
• Considered a prospective property to buy for the Yorkshire & Humberside regional office and adviceline and agreed that the Chair of GPC and the Treasurer are authorised to make a decision on the property once further information is available.  
• Agreed the following timetable for the forthcoming officer elections: –
• 1 September – timetable to be published by this date (circulated to local officers)
• 1 November – nominations open
• 15 December – close of nominations
• 22 December – deadline for withdrawals (and election materials)
• 1 February – election opens
• 1 March (midday) – election closes
• Noted the importance of implementing a smooth and intuitive process for joining the NEU; and agreed that the union enters into a contract with ‘Join Together’ to deliver a new online join process being satisfied that colleagues in the Recruitment, Membership & Advice directorate have properly considered possible suppliers in accordance with the Procurement Policy. 
• Pulling together conference motions from 2022 and 2023 that include instructions around caseworker support, agreed a programme of work over the next year to produce a series of tools, guidance and best practice to better support NEU caseworkers.  A key part of that support will be the urgent exploration of clinical supervision with a further report going to the Executive in Autumn 2023.  
• Agreed to submit TUC motions on BDS/Palestine and Ending Child Poverty and for the Office to submit relevant amendments including the pay dispute/education funding and to nominate Daniel Kebede, Niamh Sweeney and Louise Regan (elected by the Executive) for the 3 TUC General Council seats.