Vote Labour: fight for socialist policies ISSN 0951-8657. Published by Socialist Outlook, PO Box 1109, London N4 ZUU. 0 1995. All rights reserved. Printed by Newsfax International London E15. THREE conferences of teaching unions over the Easter holidays decided to ballot their members on industrial action against rising class sizes.
This is a vital stand in defence of the quality of education, at the very point where Tory cuts are forcing governors and education authorities to contemplate classes as large as 40 or more.
But the teachers' fight for education has been met by hostility from NUT General Secretary Doug McAvoy. And Labour's David Blunkett has not only opposed any form of industrial action, but responded to campaigns demanding a legal maximum of 30 in a class by promising that a Labour government would limit class sizes - to 40!
The thousands of parents and governors who have rallied behind campaigns against cuts in school budgets must now show their support for teachers who take action.
Labour and union right wingers claim that strikes and other action would 'alienate' parents, while in fact it is their failure to offer any kind of lead which has held back the development of a nation-wide fightback.
It has been left to the parents' and governors' campaign, Fight Against Cuts in Education (FACE) to give a national lead.
FACE is confronting all council candidates with demands that tie support to a 'pledge' to campaign for more cash to education and a legal limit to class sizes, arguing that any candidate who fails to sign the pledge should be opposed.
By the same logic teachers who take action to secure the FACE objectives must be supported - and the fight stepped up to make Tony Blair's 'New Labour' take up the struggle to save our schools. chool, Hayes Laner Eratu
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FACE conferencer Building the lighibacktor educaion contact Face doSt Giles County anders