NUT BALLOT POSTPONED UNTIL NEXT TERM

To the disappointment of many contributors to Classroom Teacher, the NUT Executive meeting on May 22nd voted by 28 to 9 NOT to go ahead with a ballot for national action THIS term - but may still agree a ballot for action NEXT term when it meets again on June 19th. However, if agreed, the ballot timetables mean further action would be delayed until November.

• How much of a setback is this for building joint union action and maintaining the campaign?


• What will be the response from UNISON and UNITE members in schools who are balloting for action in July? Can schools be closed if support staff do strike ?


• Many on the NUT Executive said there wasn't a mood to go for action this term - do you agree?


• What should classroom teachers do now to make sure that the Executive back a ballot for discontinuous national action when they meet in June - and to make sure that NUT members vote for action in a September ballot?


• Some Executive members are talking about selective rolling strikes on pay rather than national strike action - could this be a useful tactic or a divisive one?


• The motion agreed at the NEC also encourages groups of schools to take action over workload. Could this be taken up in your area? Over what issues ?


• What about the NATIONAL action on workload and class sizes agreed by NUT Conference?

There will be a national meeting of NUT Divisional Secretaries on June 17th to discuss all these points and more - contribute your ideas to the discussion on the Classroom Teacher blog !