By: Kieran
By: Saroj
Conference kicked off this morning with a thoroughgoing critique of the government White and Green Papers. Motion was passed with all amendments. More on this later as there will be commitments required from Districts and members are strongly encouraged to take part in the government consultation on their bad proposals!
For some reason this has been going round Conference this morning 🤔
Great speeches on primary education, especially Phonics only approaches and Edubusiness involvement in pushing for it despite evidence that it worsens outcomes for students.
Also brilliant speeches with conference chants of 'tax the rich' and one speaker delivering his in verse!
Pleased to see unanimous passing of motion on pornography and RSE, and that we have been able to get to the motion on school libraries.
By: Fiona
A properly funded and staffed library in every school ... you'd think this was a given, but our speakers are telling a worryingly negative picture. Our Union delegates have responded. We vote to make this a clear, essential requirement for every school. We value our Librarians... a proud profession in their own right and a vital link in the whole chain of wider Education staff.
By: Saroj
Resources available in the activist zone!
Motion 12
The Support staff conditions debate is in progress.
Support staff members hear the words “could you just…” as the start of a request. It’s then followed up with “the children need it.”
It means that support staff often take on work beyond their role and they don’t get always get a break.
Conference is being asked for “a clear definition of their role, clear career progression, protection from working long hours and protection from unreasonable demands, often at short notice.”
The last speaker acknowledged their indispensable work during the pandemic, too.
Samiul of Tower Hamlets seconding amendment 2 on motion 12
One of the major stories of Conference that got a little lost in the drama of walkout and war yesterday was a significant change in policy around support staff members. We will campaign for a national contract for support staff and a 10% pay rise for support staff. We now have 50,000 support staff members and this gives us the heft. We need support staff reps and co-reps in schools and on District committees - everyone in a school should be in the NEU!
By: Kieran
Before international section, some important awards. Kiri Tunks is the winner of the Annie Higdon Award, which recognises members for their work in challenging sexism and engaging women members. Kiri has worked tirelessly on this for decades.
The Blair Peach Award had two winners this year, Katie Stewart- Matthews and Robin Tear, both recognised for their work with refugees. Videos of their moving speeches with calls to action for districts will be uploaded later.
Finally, the Nikki Simpson Award recognises outstanding contribution in members learning.
Before moving into the International Section the General Secretary of the GUPT, Palestine's largest teachers union addressed conference via video link as Israel had denied him a visa to travel here in person.
Conference is now hearing motion on Palestine.
Great to see Palestine motion passed with both amendments. Being able to call apartheid what it is really matters.
Good letter from our general secretaries following Michael Fabricant's disgraceful comments yesterday as he tried to get the Prime Minister and Chancellor out of a pit they dug for themselves.
Motion 45
Defending reps in the workplace is being debated…
Louise Lewis spoke to conference to say we should stand behind our reps..and that we should be prepared to go to tribunal to defend them.
The motion calls on the executive to build support for victimised reps. It also asks for a review of the use of settlement and non disclosure agreements before investigating in full a legal challenge to victimisation.
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