Motion on Pay to be discussed at General Meeting Friday 13th October

Motion on Pay to be discussed at General Meeting of Derby National Education Union (NUT Section) Friday 13^th October 2017

Derby Division of the National Education Union (NUT Section) notes:

1.    the 14% real cut in teachers’ and other public-sector workers’ pay since 2010 because of the Coalition and Tory government public sector worker pay cap.

2.    The recent Equality Trust analysis which found that FTSE 100 chief executives are now paid 165 times more than a nurse, 140 times more than a teacher, 132 times more than a police officer and 312 times more than a care worker.

3.    Opinion research which finds that a majority of the UK public believe that the pay cap should be scrapped.

We welcome:

1.    Demands by many trade union leaders at last month’s TUC congress that the pay cap should end and that all public-sector workers should get across the board pay rises substantially above the rate of inflation.

2.    Calls at the Congress for public sector trade unions to co-ordinate strike action if necessary to achieve this objective and announcements by the PCS, UCU and POA that they intend to ballot their members on taking such action.

3.    Support from Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell for public-sector workers taking action against the pay cap.

4.    The successful national ballot by CWU members for strike action beginning on Thursday 19^th October, hugely surpassing the thresholds imposed in the government’s new anti-trades union law with an 89% yes vote on a 73% turnout.

5.    Joint demonstrations that have been called by a number of public-sector unions, including the NUT, and especially the Britain deserves a pay rise – end the pay cap now demonstration and rally in London on 17 October.

6.    The parliamentary lobby to end the education cuts on 24^th October, at which the case can be made that a pay increase should be fully funded.

7.    The continuation of the successful NUT/NEU schools funding campaign which is complementary to our demand for a pay-rise which goes some way, at least, to restore the value of teachers’ pay to what it was in 2010 and attract sufficient new recruits to the profession.

We agree:

1.    To mobilise as many Derby teachers (and parents) as possible to attend the parliamentary lobby on 24^th October, to join more than 900 colleagues who have already committed.

2.    To co-ordinate our efforts with other public-sector trade unions in Derby, as well as well as with parent groups wherever possible.

3.    To call on the national union to join other public-sector unions in balloting members this term for national strike action against the public sector pay cap, recognising that the widely-acknowledged legitimacy of and support for our demand for a substantial pay-rise means that a ballot outcome which complies with legal requirements is achievable.