Executive NEUs February 2024

GS Report

The General Secretary reported:

Key focus was building to deliver a strong indicative ballot result to force a dying government to invest in our children’s future and to set the priorities for a new Government
Visiting his old school, morale in the profession is at rock bottom due to the omni-crises of SEND, recruitment and retention, workload, critical funding shortfalls and the RAAC debacle – with no prospect of Government investment
Engaging with the Labour Party – on the basis that we work with them where we can and work against where we must
For the pre-election period, we’ve relaunched the School Cuts website and we’re seeking commitments from all Labour and Lib-Dem prospective parliamentary candidates for an education funding pledge – our aim is to encourage a national discourse about investing in our young people and the education system
Change will not come from cosy chats at the DFE but with the engagement of our members and the empowerment of our reps and officers to campaign and bring industrial pressure upon the government

Talks with NJC unions

The Union is clear that it must implement the annual conference 2023 resolution to, ‘End the undertaking not to actively or knowingly recruit support staff’. To date this has involved active consideration of the complex matters of how and when to do so. Executive has been mindful that if we begin to actively or knowingly recruit support staff in the maintained sector, this could trigger another TUC dispute that would put the union in breach of TUC Principles 2 and 3. The NEU has participated in the TUC-brokered talks in good faith and positively engaged with the process. However, the stance of the NJC unions must be acknowledged and was noted by the Executive in the circulated correspondence. The Executive agreed to establish a Task and Finish group to consider these complex matters and to bring proposals back to Executive by no later than July 2024.

Pay dispute

Briefing held for all regional/Organising field staff – maximum capacity for member-facing work; staff allocated to each branch
Activists and staff working closely to identify workplaces that need support; workplace visits in larger schools without reps
Online tool to address issues and questions being developed and will be shared with all reps/officers – activity at workplace level will boost turnout – by up to 20%
Regular evaluation of the communications/messages that land well
Government has delayed submitted evidence to the STRB – deliberate device to frustrate our indicative ballot – no pay offer to coalesce around
Need to acknowledge that members’ appetite for action is not yet where we need it to be – against a very different backdrop to 2022/3

In response to questions from the Executive about the framing of the dispute and the messaging, the General Secretary noted that the framework for the dispute and the roadmap had been agreed by the Executive in December, with further decisions in January and before the Executive at this meeting.

The Executive then agreed the following in relation to the pay dispute/ballot matters:

Recommendation 1 – Teachers’ Ballot

That the ballot questions for the schoolteachers (England and Wales) and sixth form college teachers (England only) should be:

Do you agree that you should receive an above-inflation pay rise for 2024-25?
Would you vote “yes” to strike action for a fully funded, above-inflation pay rise that constitutes a meaningful step towards a long-term correction in pay, and further funding to provide improved levels of staffing provision in schools, colleges and education services.

Further, to ratify the recommendation from the Wales Committee that schoolteachers in Wales should be asked a further question about their willingness to take strike action if the Welsh Government impose a change to the school year with a four-week summer holiday.

Recommendation 2 – Support Staff (England)

To conduct a support staff member consultation as soon as practicable after confirmation of the NJC unions’ pay demand, without further reference to the Executive, asking, at once, the following set of consultation questions:

CONSULTATION 1

Do you support the NJC unions 2024-25 pay demand of XXX?
Would you vote “Yes” to strike action alongside NJC unions in support of their 2024-25 pay demand?

CONSULTATION 2

Would you vote “yes” to strike action alongside NEU teacher colleagues for further school funding, that fully funds pay awards, fully protects support staff terms, conditions and job security and provides improved levels of staffing provision in schools, colleges and education services?

Recommendation 3 – Support Staff (Wales)

To accept the recommendation of the Wales Executive Committee members and include Wales support staff in the England Support Staff ballots, but when doing so ask them a further question about their willingness to take strike action if the Welsh Government impose a change to the school year with a four-week summer holiday.

Recommendation 4 – Communications

To issue press releases this week, ahead of the preliminary ballot going live, to secure media coverage of the re-launch industrial and political action around both pay and funding;
To use the Government’s submission of written evidence to the STRB as major comms push during the preliminary ballot (likely around the 6 March Budget)

Recommendation 5 – National Demonstration

That a final decision on the best way to take forward national/local days of action be made at the next Executive cycle once we know how the preliminary electronic ballot is progressing.

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

Task & Finish Group: Regional/Wales Council standing orders and constitution review
to back to the next Union Strength meeting to discuss further and to produce proposals around:
How we can maximise member activity through regional and local meetings
How current rules allow for member participation and any proposed changes
Phil Clarke, Sarah Carter, Liz McLean, and Mairead Canavan were elected as delegates to the EI World Congress in Buenos Aires in July and the funding of two places, to be paid from the International Subvention Fund
Executive amendments were agreed to the following Conference motions: Motion 26 – Maternity Rights; Motion 17 – SEND in crisis and Motion 27: Menopause
Agreed a motion to TUC LGBT+ Conference 2024 and elected Denise Henry as an Executive delegate
noted the variance report noting the overall position is currently showing a surplus of £4,773,763 against a budgeted surplus of £5,688,158 (a negative variance of £914,395)
Subscription income is showing a positive variance of £65,316 against budgeted income. (also reported under the financial report to Executive)
Noted the signed final accounts. As a result of an adjustment to the tax, the final reserves position has increased from £107.3 million to £108.2 million
That the Union’s AR21 would be filed with the Certification Officer shortly and the member statement circulated
The extension of our contract with the company which produces our summer membership renewal be extended until 31 December 2024 and that full tender exercise takes place to agree a new contract with effect from 1 January 2025
That the Executive is consulted on the proposal to amend Standing Orders to allow general motions to be debated before the full Executive, when appropriate, for further consideration by OSG
An annual donation of £500 to affiliate/donate to the Truth about Zane campaign
The motions “Boycott Barclays! Stop Banking on Apartheid” as amended and “Disability Equality Training” (unamended) were agreed by the Execuitve.

Executive NEUs January 2024

GS Report

The General Secretary welcomed the Executive to their first meeting of 2024 and reminded colleagues that they would all need to be prepared to face the challenges ahead in a General Election year:

Positive changes from the Labour party with a genuine desire to reset the relationship between a Labour Government and the Profession
Any manifestos/education plans must include investment and a rejection of the fiscal straitjacket
Commend and welcome Sadiq Khan’s further extension of free school meals for primary pupils in London – a success for the Union’s campaign – other contributors to child poverty, including the benefit cap – must be addressed by a new Government
PRC considering a paper on the General Election campaign commitments – major demand for a commitment to match OECD average spend of 5% GDP
Welcome the first stage recommendations from the Workload Taskforce – members’ strike action has led to movement on PRP and restoration of list of bureaucratic tasks to STPCD
Pushing for a meeting at General Secretary level with the NJC unions at the TUC and will bring a report in February
The NEU/Save the Children Gaza fundraising efforts so far raised £37k
Initial meeting with the new OFSTED Chief Inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver, when he claimed to want to reset relations between OFSTED and the profession. Our stance has not changed – abolish and replace; do recognise that any real change lies with the Government and Oliver’s remit is limited
Regular meetings with Patrick Roach, Paul Whiteman and Geoff Barton; no plans at this stage for these unions to ballot on pay and funding
Have to recognise stark differences between the circumstances in 2022/3 when teacher members beat the ballot thresholds – cost of living crisis at its peak; groundswell of strike action and disputes across the economy and high-profile Union leadership due in part to the pandemic
Member and activist engagement is also comparatively poor – regional briefings in place but patchy; only 50 branch pay briefings registered
Complacency will be fatal – full of hope that we can continue our fight to restore members’ pay but will require rock solid commitment and activist/member engagement

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

2024-25 Pay & Funding Campaign

To open our indicative ballots on Saturday 2 March and close them on Thursday 28 March.
To define our trade dispute for teachers in state-funded schools in England, Wales and sixth form colleges as follows: for sufficient additional funding to secure a fully funded above-inflation pay rise that constitutes a meaningful step towards a long-term correction in pay and to education provision and resources.
That, reflecting on the member survey that closes at the end of January, Wales Executive Committee members advise whether an indicative ballot of teacher members in Wales should also ballot them on their willingness to take strike action over proposed changes in the school year.
That as soon as we know the NJC employers’ pay offer we will consult our support staff members about their willingness to take strike action alongside NJC unions in support of their claim and also their willingness to take strike action alongside their teacher colleagues to address the funding of jobs and conditions of service.
Address an open letter to NJC unions to indicate that we are preparing to consult our members on their willingness to take strike action over the NJC employers’ offer as per I and to register our desire to work alongside them, in a general election year, to ballot our members to address the funding of jobs and conditions of service.
That a full report on the discussions with TUC and NJC unions is provided to the 24 February Executive to inform a decision on how best to advance support staff concerns.
That ballot-ready activities for support staff members continue in the meantime.
Prepare for workplace action in schools with high support staff membership density to reverse term-time only contracts
Approach the other education unions, including UCU, regarding the appetite for a summer term national demonstration on education funding. A provisional date should be agreed with the 24 February Executive tasked with making a final decision
Building on knowledge gained from the 2022/3 campaign:
Guidance and training be produced on creating effective communications, including social media and how to use digital communication tools available; and
Guidance be produced and training devised on how to have effective picket lines

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

following the gains secured via the Workload Reduction Task Force, plans are made for workplace bargaining activity and resources to ensure that removal of the statutory obligation to undertake PRP effectively eliminates the practice of PRP de facto.
On minimum service levels:
Sign up to the CTUF (campaign for Trade Union Freedom) campaign plan and add our logo to their initiatives
Invite John Hendy and Keith Ewing to a future executive meeting to explore all potential avenues of resistance once the regulations have been published
Signed up to the joint protocol for schools on online searches/vetting of school staff (with NAHT, ASCL & NASUWT
Review support for members going through the National Disciplinary Procedures;
Improve casework support systems including training and closer liaison and information sharing between officer and staff caseworkers;
To ratify the Officers’ advice to district and branch members concerning the National Supply Teachers’ Network
Noted the Finance report showing a small deficit of £377,375 and received the draft Final Accounts and authorised the National Treasurer and Chair of GPC to sign off the final version for submission of the AR21.
Agreed that no further guidance is issued in respect of the National Officer elections and the position is reviewed once the Certification Officer has made their decision in respect of the complaint about the 2023 Executive elections (D4)
Agreed the timetable for the by-election in District 1 to replace Amy Kilpatrick (appointed to a job in the Union); nominations 19 January to 22 April; election from 13 May to 10 June
Amend the Protocol for Executive release to enable financial support to be provided in certain circumstances when the Executive member is not directly employed in certain circumstances
That remote attendance at Executive is offered to those who are immuno-compromised and to those who are eligible for reasonable adjustment under the terms of the 2010 Equality Act
Elected Phillipa Kearns, Susan Kent, Paul Welch and Leigh Seedhouse from GPC to sit on the sub-group for Wales Representation on Government bodies
Agreed the following members would represent the NEU at EI World Congress:General Secretary; Deputy General Secretary; Former General Secretary (EI Board Member); Assistant General Secretary; International Secretary; International Policy Specialist; President; National Executive (4); Chair, International Committee; lay members drawn from the International OF (4)
Agreed to increase the annual grant to the NEU Trust Fund from £50k to £75k
Agreed donations to Homes for All (£1,170), Stand up to Racism (£100k), Hope not Hate (an additional £27k from the Political Fund);
Agreed to award the NEU publications contract to Swan Print (cost savings and improved green credentials)
Under their powers to interpret the Rules, agreed that the relevant Rules for the purposes of role-sharing of Branch positions is Appendix C/4.2 (District elections) and not the Rules relating to National Elections. Branch role-sharing will not be restricted to two members, nor will it be necessary for the provisions of the Equality Act to apply
General Motion on Gaza/Israel conflict
Agreed the text of our motion to TUC Black Workers’ Conference on the Prevent Duty, subtitled ‘the Thought Police in Schools’
Liz McLean, Liz Ritson and Holly Williams were elected as delegates to this year’s Labor Notes Conference – held biennially in Chicago and focusing on union organising
Nominated Thom Kirkwood for the TUC Young Workers’ Forum (and Vice-Chair).

Executive news September 2023

Phil Clarke, Vice-President, welcomed the newly elected Executive members to their first meeting of the cycle. Phil explained that he was chairing the meeting in the President’s absence due to a family bereavement. The Executive relayed their sincere condolences to Emma Rose. Both Phil and Daniel Kebede paid tribute to the outgoing President, Louise Atkinson, for her able chairing of the Executive and superb representation of the Union both domestically and on the international stage during her Presidential year of office.

GS Report – Special Executive

Daniel Kebede gave the following report on campaign and policy initiatives:

The RAAC crisis in Schools/Colleges

On the eve of pupils returning for the autumn term, the DFE confirmed updated guidance in relation to RAAC (reinforced, autoclaved, aerated concrete) resulting in 104 schools being advised that some or all their buildings were unsafe and could not be used;
Far more schools could be affected – the National Audit Office reported in June 2023 that two in five school buildings were past their lifespan – the Union has been pushing the Government for years to address this issue;
Government compounding confusion by their delay in publishing list of affected schools
When the NEU exposed the failure of the Government to fund costs of temporary accommodation and pupil travel, the guidance was revised overnight, and Nick Gibb MP (Schools Minister) attempted to blame the Union for misinformation
The scale of 13 years of under-investment is vast – the Government have spent £35bn less than they would if they had maintained the spending of the last Government.

State of the Union

Mass member participation in 8 days’ strike action in spring and summer terms
Beaten the Government’s stringent ballot thresholds – twice
As a result, 70K members joined us in 6 months – now the third largest TUC affiliate and the biggest industry-specific Union in the country
Success down to member/rep and branch engagement
Have demonstrated the lack of STRB independence and forced Government’s hand in negotiating directly on pay
Moved the Government’s pay offer to 6.5% with increased funding – round one of the pay- restoration campaign

Pay campaigns – roadmap

Need to build on momentum and member-engagement
Record vacancies across schools and 1m pupils taught in classes of 31+
OECD average education funding is 5% of GDP – in the UK it’s 4.19%
Continue collaborative approach – currently working with ASCL, NAHT and NASUWT on a joint letter to Secretary of State
Stages on roadmap will include the Autumn Statement and the Government’s recommendations to the STRB in February 2024
In Northern Ireland – members have been taking ASOS since September 2022 and two days’ strike action
In Jersey – members have taken a day’s action with a further strike on 12 September
We have formal ballots in 8 FE Colleges and will be co-ordinating action with UCU
Will schedule meeting with Sixth Form Colleges Association (the employer body) when funding allocation for sixth form colleges known; if no pay offer, will seek agreement to re-ballot members in the sector (the current strike mandate expires at the end of October)

Value Education: Value Educators – autumn orientation

Focus on winning pay implementation across all workplaces and further eradication of PRP – led by STRB recommendations
Orientation – on the ground successes; encouraging school group meetings/raising issues with employers/collectively escalating concerns
Reps and Branch secretaries will be supported with Dashboard/checklist and resources
Vital that the Union engages with the Workload Task Force at the DFE – first meeting on 20 September; suspect Government’s approach to WL reduction will be Oak Academy/standardisation of lesson planning/AI approach – risking the further reduction in teacher professionalism and autonomy
Change will come from building from the base – will develop branch and district health checks supported by activate resources

Election results

A list of the results of the elections held at the Special Executive is attached.

Elections to the remaining vacancies on Committees, OF/NCs and Award Panels will be held at the October meeting.

The limit on Executive membership of OF/NCs will be waived for future elections.