THE 4-1 VOTE by NUT members against a one-day national strike on class sizes was disappointing but no real surprise (see Outlook No.85).
An unprecedented propaganda offensive against the conference decision to call for action was waged by General Secretary Doug McAvoy, at an estimated cost of up to £200,000.
Every member was sent at least two expensive glossy leaflets attacking both the proposed strike and those conference delegates who had had the temerity to propose action.
In areas where 'unofficial material' (in other words locally produced leaflets put out to counter the lies emanating from Hamilton House) was circulated, NUT members received a further letter of repudiation from McAvoy. This represents a dangerous selfimposed extension of the anti-union laws, which only combating education cuts, in alliance with the network of parents, governors and students involved in the Fight Against Education Cuts (FACE) campaign.
It also envisaged linking up with other public sector workers in a broad-based campaign both against cuts and specifically around the question of pay.
Now that McAvoy has disposed of the strike, he is clearly intent upon imposing his own bankrupt strategy and system of bureaucratic allialices.
His problem is that this is already showing signs of strain as the leadeships of both the NASUWT and ATL have both rejected his suggestion of a further lobby of Parliament.
'Campaign'
The 'campaign' which McAvoy argued would be damaged by the 'diversion' of a one-day strike looks set to be little more than the same... called strategy will vindicate the left, in the short term it is teachers and school students who will pay the price for McAvoy's sabotage.
Thousands of teachers' jobs are now certain to be lost - 200 in Oxfordshire alone -and class sizes will continue to rise.
A sober assessment of the situation is that we have lost this year's battle despite the highest level of local strike action seen for many years.
Whether the inevitable demoralisation that this creates (and which played an important part in the ballot defeat) will stem the growing militancy among teachers remains to be seen.
What is certain is that the FACE national demonstration on September 30 is now more important than ever.
It was agreed as the major priority by the successful FACE conference, attended by 200 parents, teachers, governors and students on June 3, and looks set to be the key focus for anti- cuts campaigners in the run-up to the Chancellor's Autumn Statement.
Now groups An essential step in building for a successful demonstration will be the ability of FACE to extend its influence and organisation into areas where there are presently few if any groups active. But with the first Scottish FACE group having been established and a FACE is fighting on, while McAvoy's 'campaign' is yet to get off the ground steady stream of affiliations than the successful FACE coming in from areas which mobilisation in March. have yet to experience the The impact of this year's cuts inflicted on 'middle Eng- cuts will only start to become land', the signs are positive. fully apparent when teachers However there is no room (rather fewer) and students for complacency. (considerably more return to While it looks certain that schools at the beginning of councils will face cuts in the September. region of 4-5% for 1996-7, As FACE's own paper more vague promises of extra says: "To make sure of its cash for education will make success we must all start orit more difficult to build the ganising now!" September 30 demonstration WFAIR PAY