Latest news with #NEU
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Teaching unions are guilty of a great betrayal
What is the point of trade unions? Do they exist to stand up for the interests of their members or are they really there to pledge solidarity with Gaza? This is what members of the National Education Union (NEU) are increasingly asking themselves. The NEU was formed in 2017 from the merger of the National Union of Teachers and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers. The latter was the major union operating in the private sector and, thus, the NEU has over 34,000 members teaching in independent schools. Ampleforth College, Charterhouse School, Christ's Hospital, Merchant Taylors' School, St Mary's School Ascot and Winchester College are among the leading public schools that recognise the NEU for collective bargaining purposes. The NEU leadership may not be entirely delighted with this situation. Whilst the NEU and the other main teaching union, National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT), are not affiliated to the Labour Party, the far-Left have long had a dominant presence in the former and are fast replicating this in the latter. Daniel Kebede, the NEU general secretary, is an avowed Marxist, who has spoken on Socialist Workers Party platforms. Much to the anger of some of its members, Matt Wrack, the acting general secretary of NASUWT, is a fireman, not a teacher. He headed up the far-Left Fire Brigades Union – they disaffiliated from the Labour Party in 2004 in opposition to Tony Blair and only rejoined in 2015 when Jeremy Corbyn became leader – for 20 years before being challenged and defeated. Wrack is a past member of the Trotskyist Militant tendency. The NASUWT has moved a long way in its 100-year-plus history. It is one of the few organisations operating today that was set up with an explicitly sexist purpose, as the history of the union by Nigel de Gruchy, its former general secretary, sets out. During the First World War, as men went to fight, more women became teachers. The NAS part of the union was set up to demand that the returning men should not have female superiors, and that pay differentials between the sexes be maintained (the UWT part of today's union was only set up when that battle was lost). Perhaps in our era where apologies for past wrongs are so popular, it is time for NASUWT to take the knee and make amends. After all, the Garrick and other formerly men-only clubs were not set up to do down women. This union was. The NEU's conference this year had time to pass motions condemning Israel. Last month, the union supported a 'Nakba 77: workplace day of action for Palestine' and a 'solidarity' march. Its actions have been anything but 'behind the scenes'. When Wrack was asked about his support for Corbyn and Labour's anti-Israel turn, he acknowledged with admirable understatement that he 'would not describe [himself] as a Zionist'. Whether Britain's teaching unions can really do much to achieve Middle East peace may be rather in doubt. But there is an issue which affects every one of their members teaching in the private sector – VAT on school fees. This Labour imposition will mean some of these members will lose their jobs as schools close. But what it will inevitably mean for many more teachers is that their conditions of employment will worsen, or at the very least, not improve as they would have done without it. While some schools including Eton have passed the full 20pc levy on to parents, many more have tried to ameliorate the full impact of Labour's onslaught. To balance their budgets, these schools will inevitably have to cut costs elsewhere. This will certainly mean that pay increases will not be as generous as they would otherwise be. It will also undoubtedly lead to more independent schools leaving the Teachers' Pension Scheme. Historically, most independent schools have been part of the state's generous, pay-as-you-go unfunded scheme. Back in 2012, the employer contribution to the pension scheme was 14.1pc. Michael Gove as education secretary then hiked the cost, and this year it has reached 28.68pc. This is largely a charge on the independent schools who are members of the scheme as, for state schools, the contributions are paid for by the Government and it is really just a matter of churning. Private schools have already been planning to leave the unaffordable scheme – it led to industrial action at the Girls' Day School Trust in 2022, the first independent school strikes in memory. But many more will be heading for the exit. So there can be no doubt that VAT on school fees is a direct assault on the interests of members of the teaching unions. What did the NEU do about it? They stated that whilst their focus rightly was on 'protecting members' jobs and conditions', they would not be campaigning against the move. Their excuse was that 'independent schools have their own influential lobby'. Not nearly influential enough, as it turned out. The schools failed to resist Gove's pension raid in 2012 and have achieved nothing to ameliorate the full impact of VAT and the scrapping of mandatory business rate relief for those schools with charitable status. In contrast with its attitude to Palestine, the NEU has stated that it could best 'use our influence behind the scenes'. The Labour Government's Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill – reversing many of the Tories' laudable education reforms and constraining academies and free schools – shows that this influence is indeed great. That Bill could almost have been dictated by the NEU. But over VAT? Nothing. It is as if the union leadership is so blinkered by socialism it does not have time to stand up for its members.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Teachers strike over 'unfair treatment' at school
Teachers at a school in Hull have walked out for a second day over the "unfair treatment" of staff, their union says. Some classes at St Andrew's CE VA Primary School, Grandale, Hull, were sent home due to strike action by National Education Union (NEU) members. Paula Burgin from the Hull branch of NEU said staff were striking over "inconsistent application of policies around pay, sickness absence and discipline that has led to unfair treatment of staff". A spokesperson from the school said the governing body was committed to work with the union to address the concerns that had been raised. Ms Burgin said the dispute formally began in March when staff put forward a list of complaints to school governors. She said policies being changed without consultation and parents complaints not being actioned were among a "plethora of issues" raised. Ms Burgin added that the resignations of two assistant head teachers in December had left "a bit of a vacuum at the top for leadership" which led to "disorganisation through the whole school". Head of religious education at the school Irene Treston-Waller said there were not enough staff to adequately supervise children during playtimes. Ms Treston-Waller, who has worked at the school for more than 12 years, said: "We are doing our best but we would really like additional support for those children who need it most. "Overall, we've got lots of issues that have been raised and I think they all need to be addressed... and in a timely fashion so that we can get on with our job which is not being in here it's being out their teaching our children." A spokesperson for the school said: "We will ensure that all parents are kept fully informed about whether there will be any further strike action, however we hope to be able to avoid this by having constructive dialogue with trade union representatives." The BBC put staff concerns to the school, but it did not address them directly. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Teacher strike ends after 'successful' talks Pay us what we deserve, striking teachers say Teachers in England move a step closer to striking St Andrew's CE VA Primary School National Education Union
BBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Teachers strike at St Andrew's primary school in Hull
Teachers at a school in Hull have walked out for a second day over the "unfair treatment" of staff, their union classes at St Andrew's CE VA Primary School, Grandale, Hull, were sent home due to strike action by National Education Union (NEU) Burgin from the Hull branch of NEU said staff were striking over "inconsistent application of policies around pay, sickness absence and discipline that has led to unfair treatment of staff".A spokesperson from the school said the governing body was committed to work with the union to address the concerns that had been raised. Ms Burgin said the dispute formally began in March when staff put forward a list of complaints to school governors. She said policies being changed without consultation and parents complaints not being actioned were among a "plethora of issues" raised. Ms Burgin added that the resignations of two assistant head teachers in December had left "a bit of a vacuum at the top for leadership" which led to "disorganisation through the whole school". Head of religious education at the school Irene Treston-Waller said there were not enough staff to adequately supervise children during playtimes. Ms Treston-Waller, who has worked at the school for more than 12 years, said: "We are doing our best but we would really like additional support for those children who need it most."Overall, we've got lots of issues that have been raised and I think they all need to be addressed... and in a timely fashion so that we can get on with our job which is not being in here it's being out their teaching our children."A spokesperson for the school said: "We will ensure that all parents are kept fully informed about whether there will be any further strike action, however we hope to be able to avoid this by having constructive dialogue with trade union representatives."The BBC put staff concerns to the school, but it did not address them directly. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
BBC News
03-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Goodwin Academy in Deal facing staff walk-out over job cuts
Teachers and support staff will walk out at a Kent secondary school on Tuesday in a dispute over job losses, their union Academy in Deal informed some staff in May they would face compulsory redundancy, according to the National Education Union (NEU).The BBC understands the school is making five support staff roles redundant.A Goodwin Academy spokesperson said: "We are committed to continuing to provide the highest quality education for our students and the best working environment for our staff." As well as Tuesday's walk-out, NEU members at the school will strike on 12 June, 18 to 19 June, and 24 to 26 June. South Kent NEU joint secretary Jamie Pout said industrial action was "a last resort" but it was "very clear that these cuts to front line staffing will have significant negative impact on the education the children at Goodwin receive".The trust must "clearly show they understand it is unacceptable for children to suffer the consequences of inadequate school funding", he NEU said 60% of its 49 members at the school took part in May's ballot on industrial action, all of whom voted to union added it was negotiating with the academy trust but opposed compulsory redundancies and was concerned that not replacing staff who choose leave the school would increase workloads. Goodwin Academy, which currently has over 800 pupils, said it was "continuing to work closely" with affected staff to "provide them support throughout this process".A spokesperson added: "These are very difficult decisions and we value all our team, but it is no secret that schools across the country are facing exceptionally challenging financial conditions and the impact of falling birth rates."It is therefore vital we take proactive action now to remain financially sound, while not compromising on the excellent education and care our students receive."Goodwin Academy is run by the Thinking Schools Academy Trust, which manages 24 schools in total.
BBC News
02-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Redcar teachers to strike over longer school hours
Teachers at a chain of schools are set to go on strike in protest at plans to extend the school day. The National Education Union (NEU) said teachers at Outwood Grange Academy School in Redcar, alongside 14 other schools belonging to the trust across the country, will take industrial action. NEU regional secretary Beth Farhat claimed teachers had been forced into this position by an employer that "simply will not listen".Outwood Grange Academies Trust (OGAT) said it was "exceptionally disappointed" in the union's decision to strike. "We remain open to constructive dialogue," a spokesperson said. NEU said teachers would strike on 3 June, 10-11 June and 17-19 follows OGAT's decision extend the school by 30 minutes, it said. Ms Farhat said the changes were "deeply unpopular" and the trust's teachers already had a "huge workload" which was affecting staff retention. "We believe that by pushing ahead with these changes and ignoring their staff, OGAT will make matters even worse," she advised the trust to "listen to their staff" and negotiate with the union for the "sake of staff and pupils". 'Workload neutral' OGAT said it was increasing the length of the school day because it currently did not meet government's 32.5 hour-a-week minimum said its school day currently ended at 14:30 BST. "The small change we have proposed will mean students can learn more and achieve even stronger outcomes," a spokesperson said. They said they had also made a commitment to meet regularly with trade unions to "identify any unnecessary workload" so that the new school week was "workload neutral" for teachers. It said it was particularly disappointed that the union had chosen days when students were due to take "important exams". Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
