School reps briefing (Wales)

1
School reps briefing (Wales)

• NUT/NASUWT joint industrial action
• 9 out of 10 teachers working together.

2
Teaching is the best job in the world

• teachers report getting enormous fulfillment from
  childrens learning
• but they feel unsupported and even attacked by
  Government
• teachers say too much of their work is for
  accountability not learning

3
Facts

• teachers working 50 hours per week
• half of all newly qualified teachers leaving in
  the first 5 years
• the Government says we must work to 68 to get a
  full pension
• the Government even contemplating allowing heads
  to cut your pay
• morale is now dangerously low.

4
What can be done?

• NUT/NASUWT have demanded Government act at
  national level
• our campaign is to force them to act
• but if they wont act nationally to limit
  workload and reform accountability,
• then we will insist on those policies in schools
• and plan for joint national strike action

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Action starts 26th Sept

• following a legal ballot NUT action short of
  strike starts 26 September
• the action applies in all LA, voluntary
  aided/voluntary controlled and academy schools in
  England, all LA and voluntary aided/controlled
  schools in Wales and all 6th form colleges
  (exceptions are schools which opened since the
  ballot)
• A list of all schools/colleges where we have
  balloted is www.teachers.org.uk/protect-teachers

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Some points on the action instructions

• their implementation is meant to reduce workload
• they are not about withdrawing from voluntary
  sports, music etc
• they are about building teacher professionalism
  by demanding trust ( dont treat us all as though
  we are on capability!).
• we do want members to own the action.
• some of them are intentionally drawn very wide
  for you to use.

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Resources for reps

• Phase one action short of strike instructions
• guidance on action short of strike action
  forEngland, Wales and sixth form colleges at
  www.teachers.org.uk/protect-teachers
• Joint observation protocol / appraisal checklist
• protocol for England and Wales
• checklist for England and Wales
• All available at www.teachers.org.uk/appraisal
• All these documents have been sent to you by post

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Resources for reps 2

• extensive FAQs on the website -
  www.teachers.org.uk/action-to-defend-teachers-FAQs
  
• if you have any questions or concerns please
  contact your division/association secretary or
• ring your regional/Wales office
• contact details can be found at
  www.teachers.org.uk/contactus
• talk to other reps in your area

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Steps for reps to take

• 1. talk to the NASUWT rep (if there is one)
• 2. call a meeting of members
• 3. go to see the head
• 4. report back to members
• 5. contact association/division if you need
  support
• 6. reassure members that union support is strong
• More details will follow

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Step 1 talk to NASUWT/NUT

• you should meet with the NASUWT rep in your
  school (if there is one) to talk through the
  sanctions and about how to manage the other steps
• if no NASUWT rep feel free to talk to another
  trusted NASUWT colleague

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Step 2 call a union meeting

• try to create a sense of members ownership of
  this action. The best way is to hold a meeting to
  talk through the instructions and how to approach
  them in your school.
• their effectiveness depends upon every member
  participating. Some members may feel more
  confident about some of the instructions than
  others and it is important for that discussion to
  take place in order to encourage maximum
  participation.

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Step 3 talk to the head

• following a meeting of members, it is important
  that you and the NASUWT rep should meet your
  head. In that meeting you should tell them that
  members intend to follow the instructions from
  their national union
• you should ask them not to approach members
  individually about this, but to discuss any
  problems with you. If you need help your local
  association/division will be pleased to help you

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Step 3 talk to the head (cont.)

• it may be possible to address concerns direct
  with your head rather than members feeling in
  conflict with them
• once heads discover the strength of feeling
  around an issue, many will seek to come to an
  agreement
• this can help change the dynamics of a school in
  ways that will be beneficial beyond the current
  dispute

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Step 3 talk to the head (cont.)

• many heads resent the downward pressure from the
  Government that our actions are aimed at and may
  support the action
• our dispute in Wales is with the Education
  Minister and if your head teacher is supportive
  of the action you could ask them to let their
  feelings be known to their union or to the
  Department for Education and Skills or Education
  Minister

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Step 4 report back to members

• tell colleagues about your meeting with the head
• some colleagues may come under pressure not to
  take part in the action
• to counter these pressures you should try to
  ensure that there are regular meetings or
  discussions with members to talk through any
  issues and the effectiveness of the action in
  your school

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Step 5 do you need support?

• if there any difficulties the NUT will provide
  support and come to meet with your head
• both unions are prepared to move to strike action
  in schools if there is a refusal to adopt the
  sort of policies we are demanding at a national
  level
• this possibility should be discussed with members
  so that they see a clear path to resolve any
  difficulties, and also the head should be made
  aware that strike action is a possibility
• you must discuss with your division/association
  secretary if you think strike action is going to
  be necessary

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Step 6 reassure members

• together NUT and NASUWT represent 9 out of 10
  teachers
• following our legal ballot the trade union
  legislation allows us to choose types of
  industrial action that seem to us to be
  appropriate to further our dispute with the
  Education Minister this includes the action
  short of strike
• and, for example, if a school insists on an
  observation protocol which requires more than 3
  observations then we would be prepared to move to
  strike action under the terms of our current
  ballot

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Build union professional strength

• the most effective way of ensuring teacher
  professionalism is respected and that our
  students get the best education is to ensure that
  our collective voice is listened to
• we need to ensure we are organized in every
  school. You should use this campaign to try and
  engage more members in union activity
• When we work together
• we can make a difference!

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My school doesnt ask us to do these things. How
can I support the action?

• tell your association secretary who can tell
  other schools. A good example can go a long way
• offer to go to meet teachers at other schools
  so they hear first hand that some schools are
  different

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Thanks

• thanks for all your hard work as school
  representative
• please keep asking new teachers to join
  www.teachers.org.uk/join
• if there is no rep in your school please elect
  one and let us know here www.teachers.org.uk/node
  /10513