Teachers hear of planned strike action

MORE half-day strikes are planned by teachers and they could affect Leicestershire schools.

Over 2,000 striking teachers were at the De Montfort Hall on Monday and heard that the two main unions – the NUT and NAS/UWT – had set up a joint national campaign committee to plan future action.

The unions have also established a working group to look at the implications of the new conditions of service that Secretary of State Kenneth Baker hopes to impose.

The rally heard NUT National Executive Member for Leicestershire, Mary Hufford, refute that the Government can impose a new ‘contract’ on teachers.

A contract can only be agreed between employer and employee – if teachers do not undertake the duties specified by Mr Baker they will not be breaking their contracts.

She, and the other speaker NAS/UWT President Mike Inman, also “exposed the iniquities” of the pay structure proposals put forward by Mr Baker which will give far less than the 16.4% rise to many and this smaller increase will, in fact be spread over a longer period than indicated by the Secretary of State.

The rally unanimously approved a motion affirming its ‘total opposition to attempts by the government to impose a pay deal upon the teaching profession; and abolish all national negotiating machinery for teachers and their employers.’

Jobless totals issued yesterday were the lowest for 18 months, now standing at just under 3,100.

Both male and female totals dropped, men from 1,914 to 1,832 and women from 1,329 to 1,265, giving an overall decrease of 146 from 3,243 to 3,097. This is the lowest total since August 1985.

Further optimism is provided by the figures for numbers placed in work, 161 including 10 on the Community Programme, and in the number of vacancies notified, 206 including 13 on the Government scheme and 161 with 10 CP vacancies outstanding.