[Education For Tomorrow: No 100, 2009]

Some highlights and lessons from the teacher conferences

 Setbacks and advances

As usual the teacher union conferences over Easter said much that was similar in slightly different ways and with slightly different emphases. There were areas, such as with anti academy work, where unity in action had brought victories. It was a tragedy that all the teacher unions could not be united in intending to take action against SATs, if the Government does not back down and abolish them. But good on the NAHT conference for supporting their Executive's position for joint action, if necessary, with the NUT.

Another disappointment was that only two of the three main teacher unions had a motion on the pupil and teacher killer — asbestos. However, the fact that Carol Hagedorn, a mesothelioma sufferer, bravely and brilliantly spoke to second the motion at the NASUWT conference helped give the issue serious media publicity. She received a standing ovation as she so rightly deserved.

All the teacher unions have now got their act together and will be forming a joint body to take the asbestos issue forward. ATL General Secretary, Mary Bousted, and Carol Hagedorn spoke at a recent Parliamentary seminar on the issue and all the three unions had representatives recently meet the Prime Minister to press for action on the issue.

All the conferences had many issues that show the 'social partnership' is one sided. A motion at the ATL conference to question this partnership was lost but an increasing proportion of delegates voted for it compared to the last time the issue was debated. Another motion against the establishment of massive schools, particularly found when academies are created, and asking for a campaign with other unions to oppose them, was passed.

Mary Bousted, ATL General Secretary, made the main theme of her address a call to end the Government's 'control freakery' of education. There were lots of examples given of this at all three conferences.

The big issue at the NUT Conference was the boycott of SATs and there was an excellent debate. The standing ovation was tremendous when the motion was passed unanimously. The debate at the NASUWT conference centred around what would replace the SATs but it is down to the profession to ensure they are replaced with meaningful assessment and not overload. It was a weak argument unfortunately, obviously put forward as an anti-NUT argument.

The other big issue was the exposure of unlawful bonuses being paid to the head teacher at Copland school in Wembley. The latest exposé reveals he received an astounding £400,000 in one year! Very good statements against this bonus culture were made by both Mary Bousted and Chris Keates, General Secretary NASUWT, and it has caused a lot of anger among teachers that their profession should be involved in such dealings.

The actions at Copland were covert and unlawful. But in academies there is no legal upper limit to head teachers pay. Increasing pay at the top is designed to get heads to support privatisation. Increasing differentials must be opposed. There are obviously others who have been or are involved in this bonus culture around the country and it needs to be rooted out of state education. The timing was very apt with news of the MPs expenses scandal just breaking.

UNIFY, the new name for Professional Unity 2000, held very successful meetings at each of the three conferences. They were well attended, with excellent speakers and a good level of debate. This has brought the need to progress unity back into the limelight. There also were issues and practical suggestions brought up at the meetings that can be used to widen the debate and involvement. UNIFY also had a meeting at the UCU Conference at the end of May.

Hank Roberts

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