Author Archives: Stefan Simms

Thursday Strike

1. Striking Thurs 27th Picketing, Leafleting & Lobby of BBC Question Time

 

Picket lines and school gate meetings start 7am

Followed by mass leafleting in Ealing from 9:30 am. choose from:

i    Acton outside Morrisons

ii   Southall outside old Southall Town Hall on Uxbridge Road

iii  Northolt by the clock tower on the village green near the tube

iv Greenford on the crossroads of Greenford Road & The Broadway

Ealing Broadway meet outside Primark in Ealing Shopping Centre

We want to keep the public and parents/carers on our side. This leaflet is designed for them. School reps should be receiving these leaflets today. They should be handed out on picket lines and brought to the one of the above mass leafleting places.

Lobby of BBC Question Time 7pm Greenford Town Hall (Ruislip Rd, UB6 9QN).

A large and noisy, but friendly, lobby outside may have a big impact nationally! All Must Come!

Bring family, friends, workmates, flags, noise makers and sound systems! Think of which Tory MP and right wing pundit you would like to meet?! Question Time is broadcast live at 8pm on BBC-iPlayer and repeated at 10:30 pm on BBC 1.

Do apply to be part of the audience and ask question. I will help writing the question.

Striking Thurs 27th & Tues 2nd

1. Strike Thurs 27th & Tues 2nd Question Time Ealing on 27th
i) What Are The Strike Plans/Activities?
ii) Agreed Exam Dispensation
2. Solidarity Message From Ealing NAHT
3. ASCL (Secondary Headteachers) To Ballot For Strike Action!
4. Build the Strikes Link The Fights Reject Bad Deal

PowerPoint for School Meeting Pay_update_ April_2023

1i. Strike

Thurs 27th April

Picket lines and school gate meetings
Followed by mass leafleting in Ealing and Strike Hardship fund collection
Lobby Ealing MPs for an official Westminster Hall debate where a Government minister must attend.
Visual Presence For BBC Question Time Outside Greenford Hall in Greenford on 27th April – Apply to be part of the audience. Ask a question!

Tues 2nd May

Picket lines and school gate meetings
London wide march & protest where we ‘engulf’ the DfE. Hopefully we will be marching with nurses who will also be on strike. See flyer below for details.

1ii. Agreed Exam Dispensation

Firstly it is important to state that neither the NEU nor an employer can compel any member not to strike on the 27th and 2nd. However, Ealing NEU has agreed the following positions:

1. Non practical exams (e.g. Maths English Humanities) members should be on strike, however work can be set and marked/feedback given another time.

2. Practical exams – members will be given dispensation if they want it. (It is anticipate most will want dispensation).

3. Practical lessons – your school NEU group will decide whether those lessons work will be set or those members come in – for those lessons only.

It is important that your school NEU meeting happens as early as possible so that your headteacher can inform parents/carers of your decision.

4. We recognise that paid boosters for Y11 & Y13 as a compensation may not work because secondary schools are already saturated with boosters. However it may partially help.

5. If a NEU member does come in on the 27th or 2nd for their Y11 and/or Y13 classes ONLY, then we expect them to be paid for the whole day. We ask that those members make a donation to the strike hardship fund.

6. There is no dispensation for Y6 classes. The view was:

If they haven’t got it by now, then they never will

Ofsted is unfit for purpose, it caused the dreadful suicide of Ruth Perry primary headteacher in Reading; we need an accountability framework that is supportive and not punitive. SATs serve no educational purpose – worse they destroy the love of learning. Secondary schools set their own tests for Y7, CATs. SATs are part of the exam factory culture, or ‘drill & kill’ as our American education sister unions put it.

NEU national guidance for Y11 & Y13 exam dispensation

Email sent to secondary Ealing headteachers Email To 2 HTs Exams and Strikes

Email sent to primary Ealing headteachers Email to Primary HTs Exams & Strikes

2. Solidarity Message From Ealing NAHT

As the NAHT London Regional Secretary and also the Ealing NAHT Branch Secretary I know NAHT members are proud of the work and actions taken by NEU reps and members over the past few months in fighting for better education outcomes for pupils in our schools and also for better outcomes for staff in our schools. It was historic that NAHT even balloted for industrial action in England and sadly we fell short of the extremely high thresholds set by government to thwart actions by unions.

I know NAHT colleagues in Ealing, London and more widely across the country were very supportive of the actions taken as from my own point of view, I hope that following a new ‘online ballot’ we have conducted that we will soon be in a position to join you all fighting and striving for the best outcomes for pupils and staff across the education sector.

For now I wish you well with your actions on the 27th and on the 2nd and know that many colleagues stand in solidarity with you. Your fight is our fight and it is a fight that we must win for those pupils in our schools who deserve high-quality, well-paid and respected staff alongside great provision, safe environments and a wide engaging curriculum. Good luck!

In solidarity!

Dave”

Mr Dave Woods (My pronouns are “he/him/his”)

Ealing NAHT Branch and London Regional Secretary

London NAHT NEC Member/ Chair of International Committee

3. ASCL (Secondary Headteachers) To Ballot For Strike Action!

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said:

  “ASCL has never before formally balloted at a national level and this is clearly a very significant step. The fact that we have reached this point reflects the desperate situation regarding inadequate funding, long-term pay erosion, teacher shortages, and the intransigence of a government which we can only conclude does not value the education workforce or recognise the severe pressures facing the sector.
We have made every effort to resolve this matter through negotiations prior to reaching this point. Unfortunately, the government’s offer has failed to sufficiently address pay and conditions, and, critically, did not provide enough funding for even the meagre proposal it put forward. Following the rejection of the offer by all education unions involved – ASCL, NAHT, NEU and NASUWT – the government has made no effort to reopen negotiations and has said only that the issue of pay will now revert to the School Teachers’ Review Body.
The conclusion of the Executive Committee is that the government has left us with no option other than to conduct a formal ballot for national strike action.
This action is taken as a last resort and with a heavy heart, but we cannot accept the continued damage to education caused by government neglect and complacency.”

4. Build the Strikes Link The Fights Reject Bad Deal

Registration/Zoom Link

Our Strikes Are Working. Keep The Pressure On The Government

How Come?

1. Without the strikes There would have been no offer of any talks about funding and pay from the Education Secretary Gillian Keegan

2. Without the strikes Wales would have not given its second ‘final’ improved offer

Conclusion

We need the strikes on the 15th and 16th to be effective. Your school must be closed on the 15th & 16th. How?

  • Your school must have a picket line from 7am to 9am Wed and Thurs with everyone on it.
  • Persuade all those in your school to strike or not cross your picket line.

Important Ealing Strike Briefing & National Update Zoom Mon 13th 6pm

Meeting ID: 820 3481 2622
Passcode: 534698

Wednesday Details

  • Picket 7am to 9am
  • Assemble At Ealing Town Hall 10 am. Warm room and toilets
  • March To Ealing Broadway (10 mins) take the Elizabeth Line to Bond St
  • Feeder March into Hyde Park (5 mins)
  • National March Every NEU member whether they are from Newcastle, Exeter or Norwich will be marching with us at noon. 100s of coaches will be arriving at Hyde Park.

Plus 40,000 Doctors, over 100,000 Civil Servants and of course RMT & ASLEF train and station staff.

Download power point for vital info:–> March_15th National March; Toilets on route and nearby, children, disable access, bus routes and overground trains info.

Thursday Details:

  • Picket 7am to 9am
  • Mass Meeting in Ealing Town Hall  10 am (The very large Victoria Hall inside). Next Steps To Winning Our Fully Funded Inflation Plus Pay Rise.

Question?

1. London will be grid lock because of the tube strike how do I get home. I will have my kids with me?

i) If you can do the picket and march, do both – very important.

ii) If it is possible only to do one or the other then picket.

iii) If it is only possible to do the National March with the doctors and civil servants then do that.

Do not stay at home!

Stewards Needed For the National March: Please Volunteer email: stefan.simms@neu.org.uk

Our Regional/Local Strike, March & Rally


Your Ballot Paper Is At Your Home Vote For Daniel!

When & Where You Must Be On Strike Day 2 – Thursday 2nd

Our pressure is working, small cracks in the government are showing. Time to up the pressure on the Government. It is not a duvet day! We strike to win for ourselves, our pupils and our schools. You are expected to be:

    1. On your picket line at 7- 9am. Your picket needs to have a carnival atmosphere; Spotify strike play lists, home made placards and school NEU banner. Please do post images and short interviews from the picket line on why you are striking. Always use the hashtag #SAVE OUR SCHOOLS when posting.

2. Assemble Opposite Ealing Hospital 10 am – Brent Meadow.

3. March to Walpole Park along the Uxbridge Road. We need as much noise and colour as possible; music, placards, banners, smoke grenades, musical instruments and chants! It is approximately a 2.5 mile walk and will take about 45 minutes. If you have young children and/or that distance is to difficult then go to straight to Walpole Park. There are toilets available with their permission at Soane’s Kitchen in the park near the war memorial. (3 female toilets & 1 male). I have liaised with the Police. Please follow the instructions of your rep/picket supervisor/steward. The police no longer steward demonstrations.

4. Rally at 11:30 am Walpole Park. Speakers include John McDonnell MP, a RCN Nurse, a local Headteacher, RMT & CWU speakers. Plus our own fantastic school reps. 

  5.  Please film and take images of the march and picket lines, then share on social media #SAVE OUR SCHOOLS

Stewarding Notes & Maps

Steward Notes