Sussex rallies on the coast

Across Sussex on may 24th Teachers headed to the coast to join up with other public sector workers in the UCU and PCS union to support the strike. There were packed meetings in Brighton, Eastbourne and Worthing as schools across the area closed for the day. In Brighton despite the rain so many turned out for the march they had to turn people away from the rally because the venue staff told the NUT organisers ‘you just can’t fit any more people in’!

The Eastbourne rally saw speakers from the NUT, PCS, UCU explaining why they had taken action and were joined by officers from Lewes prison who are looking to re-create their highly successful strike in the near future. The debate from the floor brought up many questions, amongst them workers asking why the unions still fund the Labour Party. In fact it is no co-incidence that none of the unions on the platform do give money to Labour, but are willing to stand up for their members pay!

In Brighton huge a round of applause went to a UCU speaker who pointed out the if a handful of New Labour MPs can send Gordon Brown into reverse, then imagine what hundreds of thousands of public sector workers can do.

The big question however was ‘what next?’ It is vital the NUT build on this strike and see it as the beginning of a campaign, writing to MPs is not enough now, we must ballot for another days strike as soon as possible and most importantly build links with other unions so there can be a huge show of anger by the public sector.

There was no doubt that the call for a 24 hour public sector strike went down well, it is now our job to build it, and force the government to value us.

Phil Clarke

Worthing demo

Derek McMillan writes:

We were just overwhelmed by the response when 283 of our members turned up in Worthing - others went to the Brighton demo.

The Classroom Teacher 4 flier was very well-received. The mood of members was electric and all the speakers were cheered to the echo.

The support from PCS was welcome and the feeling felt by many first time strikers from small rural schools was that they are part of a much wider movement and they can feel more confident to take action.

The WSTA is pushing the idea of strengthening union organisation as a result of the strike by setting up email circles of reps and using a blog and a facebook group to draw our new activists together.

These 283 are the key to the future of WSTA and by making a strong organisation we can win.

Some amusement has been expressed at the idea that Classroom Teacher is a "London based group of activists!"

West Sussex

Derek McMillan writes:

I was delighted to get a call from a retired teacher who wanted to support the strike fund and we have had members who are not striking - for example those in private schools or final year of teaching - offering to give money instead.

The vote at my school was 3-1 in favour and the school will be closed and I have been getting similar reports from elsewhere in the county. A lot depends on the rep and we have many excellent ones - I have also had calls from two members who feel isolated by an unsupportive rep - some reps will be replaced by the keen new activists coming into action on Thursday.

The first time strikers can revolutionise the union. We need to keep together and keep in touch after Thursday - using email, blogs, the old fashioned telephone and meetings.

And Classroom Teacher 4 has been well received. Download and print it out.

West Sussex Day of Action

Well you will get a feeling of deja vu from the West Sussex strike newsletter as it is based on the Classroom Teacher flier.

There is a rally in Worthing at 10 at the Pavilion Theatre. Click here for all the details. And a lifelong learning newsletter is to be distributed to members at the rally so we can keep in touch with the new first-time strikers.

The new members coming in to activity for the first time can revolutionise the union. (I tend not to use the term "new layers" because it sounds like hens!)