Class Struggle's blog

Teachers look to strike in January

The National Education Union (NEU) has announced “preliminary ballot” results of 86% for strikes on pay among teachers in England, on a 62% turnout, and 78% for strikes among support staff (68% turnout).

In Wales the figures were: support staff, 78% turnout; 83% for strikes; teachers, 70% turnout...

Schools formal ballot opens 1 November

The National Education Union’s (NEU's) support staff “preliminary ballot” opened on 7 September, and the teacher one on 24 September. Both look like showing a strong will for strikes, on good turnouts.

The NEU Executive met on 6 October and decided that the formal ballots will open 1 November and...

NEU to ballot from 24 September

The National Education Union (NEU) National Executive met on 16 July and agreed to move our strike ballot on pay forward to increase the prospects of co-ordination with other unions.

After the union’s annual conference at Easter agreed to hold an indicative ballot, the Executive decided to open it...

School workers’ pay: a long road yet

At the 18 June TUC demonstration Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the National Education Union announced that the union would be balloting for industrial action on pay in the autumn term. Coming after the first RMT strikes and reports that postal workers, health workers, and civil servants...

A strike for LGBT rights

“We are here on the picket line to ensure that students who are LGBTQ+ – including those who are LGBTQ+ and religious – feel seen, safe and heard.” – a JFS striker

On 12 May, workers at the John Fisher School in Purley, South London – members of the National Education Union, mainly teachers – took...

Solidarity with the John Fisher strike!

The strike at the John Fisher Catholic school in the south London borough of Sutton, over the cancelling of an author’s visit and the sacking of governors in connection with it, has now been widely reported. See, for instance, here and here.

The author, Simon James Green writes teen fiction that...

Report of NEU conference 2022

The first in-person National Education Union (NEU) conference since April 2019 committed to build towards a ballot in either summer or autumn term if the School Teachers Review Body comes up with a poor pay award.

An amendment from Lewisham District with a clearer time line, and which more clearly...

Two speeches on Ukraine at NEU conference 2022

The 2022 National Education Union (NEU) conference saw heated debate about Ukraine. In the end the conference voted down the only motion available, a Stop the War Coalition-type one (more on what happened here). Below are excerpts of two speeches given by Ukraine Solidarity Campaign supporters in...

Sudan's school workers step up

The “Sudanese Revolution” to overturn October’s military coup is continuing in force. As explained by trade unionist Mohamed Nagy Alassam in Solidarity 625, workers’ struggles are a very important part of the revolt. Workers have struck to support the fight for democracy and for their own workplace...

GDST gets two-tier deal

The strikes by teachers in the Girls' Day School Trust private schools have won a partial victory, but at the cost of accepting a "two-tier" workforce in future in which workers doing the same job are nevertheless on different conditions.

The teachers, members of the National Education Union (NEU)...

Union sets new strikes in GDST

The National Education Union (NEU) has now named further strike dates, Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday every week until the Easter holidays, for teachers in the 23 private schools run by the Girls Day School Trust (GDST).

The teachers have already completed six days of well supported strikes to defend...

GDST needs more strikes

On 21 February, the trustees of the Girls Day School Trust (GDST), a chain of 23 private schools, issued the decision from their “consultation” over proposed changes to teachers’ pensions.

Under pressure for the National Education Union (NEU) members in their schools, who had already struck once...

Pensions strike is strong

On Thursday 10 February 1,500 teachers who are members of the National Education Union (NEU) in the private schools of the Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST) struck to prevent their employers removing them from the Teachers’ Pension Scheme.

The strikes were very well supported, with lively picket...

Covid: “the moon is not a hamster”

As the Harvard University scientist Bill Hanage tweeted in early January: “Omicron is not endemic [settled into being a worrisome but manageable background factor] right now in much the same way that the moon is not a hamster”.

On 12 January Chicago teachers returned to in-person work, after a...

Teachers at 23 Girls Day School Trust schools teachers set to strike

On 6 December the indicative ballot of National Education Union (NEU) members who teach in the 23 “public” (i.e. private) schools run by the Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST) returned 93% yes for strikes on a 93% turnout.

This sets us on course for a very significant strike.

GDST is threatening to...

Louise Lewis victimised again

The National Education Union (NEU) workplace rep at North Huddersfield Trust, Louise Lewis, has been dismissed in an act of blatant anti-union victimisation. Louise was at the centre of a major dispute earlier this year when she was subjected to disciplinary allegations and suspended.

Her union...

Abolish GCSEs, turn the tide on toxic testing

Over the last ten years Workers’ Liberty school workers have been at the forefront of pushing the debate about testing in schools in the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and in its successor the National Education Union (NEU).

In 2019 we wrote a motion passed at the NEU’s national conference which...

Model Motions for NEU Conference 2022

Whether fighting for better representation for support staff, demanding collective action over testing or calling for greater accountability and democracy in our union Workers'Liberty education workers are taking arguments to NEU conference 2022. Help to pass motions you agree with in your union...

Surprise vote in NEU

The Deputy General Secretary (DGS) election in the National Education Union (NEU) has been won by "moderate" candidate Niamh Sweeney. It had been expected that Gawain Little of the “NEU Left” would win.

Workers’ Liberty supported Martin Powell-Davies, the candidate of the rank-and-file Education...

Teaching history: defending the indefensible?

Last week, a youth worker in the UK named Hannah Wilkinson tweeted an image from a textbook used today in this country for A-Level history. Students were asked “To what extent do you believe the treatment of native Americans has been exaggerated?”

Wilkinson asked “In what world is this is an...

Vote Martin Powell-Davies in NEU!

Voting in the election for the first ever elected Deputy General Secretary of the National Education Union (NEU) opens on 4 October, with ballot papers being sent to members’ homes. Voting closes on 29 October.

Socialists, rank and file activists, and members should vote for Martin Powell-Davies...

Back Martin Powell-Davies in NEU

Nominations close on 13 September for the newly created Deputy General Secretary role in the National Education Union (NEU). All three candidates already have at least 15 Districts, the number they need to ensure they are on the ballot paper. Martin Powell-Davies is the Education Solidarity Network...

Combat sexual harassment in schools through democracy

The Department for Education has promised more support for schools to tackle sexual abuse and has strengthened safeguarding guidance. This was in response to a review by Ofsted that concluded that sexual harassment has become “normalised” for young people, in school.

Pimlico Academy: near a tipping point

On 8 June, National Education Union (NEU) members at Pimlico Academy (London) held their first strike day. A sunny Tuesday morning saw a strong turnout from members, with the picket line stretching all the way down the road. Workers carried placards with slogans including: “kick racism out of school...

Reject "catch up" blather: fight school cuts!

On 2 June the government announced a £1.4bn “Covid Catch-up” programme for pupils and students, to cover up to six million sets of 15-hour tutoring courses for disadvantaged pupils and expansion of an existing fund for helping 16- to 19-year-olds with subjects such as English and maths.

Kevan...

Three wins, two setbacks

The United Learning academy chain has pulled back from dismissing teacher and National Education Union (NEU) activist Kirstie Paton.

A victory at Pimlico Academy

Staff and students at Pimlico Academy in London have already seen a first victory. On 18 May, the day before a National Education Union (NEU) ballot for strike action, closed, head teacher Daniel Smith announced he would leave on 31 May. Student protest and the threat of workers’ action has seen off...

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