Front Page - Education, Education, Desperation!
Front Page - Blunkett's deal leaves teachers under-staffed, under-paid and under pressure …
Education, Education, Desperation!
IN THE run-up to the 1997 election, it was pressure on education cuts that helped polarise opposition to John Major’s Tory government.
But almost four years later, school teachers in England are fuming at ever-increasing paper- work, assessment and demands upon them, and bitter that yet again the basic pay increase is well short of the 12% the unions had called for to attract the extra staff that are needed. With some schools already on a 4-day week for lack of teachers, and an estimated 20,000 unfilled posts, the mix of mounting admin work, unlimited hours, inadequate support and unsympathetic management is driving away experienced teachers and scaring off potential recruits.
The government’s attempts to fob off many teachers with discretionary handouts of ‘performance related’ pay have not fooled most classroom teachers. They want extra cash for all teachers, as part of the basic salary, not an "extra" that can be here today – and taken away by the head teacher tomorrow. Teachers in England are even more angry to discover that their colleagues in Scotland have been given not only a hefty 10% increase this year, but a deal limiting their working week to 35 hours, along with extra teachers and more support staff.
That’s why 1,300 angry teachers packed a London rally last week, baying for action by the NUT. The union leaders have promised a ballot on refusing to cover for vacant posts. Labour romped to office pledging that its pri- orities would be "education, education, education". Little did anyone think that as the next election approached so little would have changed for the better.
A strong vote for action now could yet force concessions from the government, if it is to avoid another embarrassing set of headlines as it launches its campaign for the next general election. Teachers must press for a swift ballot and a YES vote for action.