Teachers face big fights
The start of the new school year will herald a new term of struggle in our schools. Last years one day strike by London teachers and at least three one-day strikes by other school staff could be only a warning of things to come. London teacher’s claim for an increase in London Allowance, a payment to compensate for increased cost of living in the capital, has not been met. Other school staff in the Unison union struck over the same issue last term and their dispute is still unresolved.
On top of this the government is trying to press a three-year wage deal on teachers. Although teachers already have no rights to negotiate their wages a three-year deal would see teachers pay slip further behind. The government also wants to push further payment by results methods in schools. Teachers’ increase in salary could be linked to pupil progress. These methods when used in manufacturing led to an increase in conflict and atomisation in workplaces. There is no reason to believe that there will be a different result in schools. Schools however rely on teamwork and the idea of a common ethos. Underpinning the government’s plans for payment by results are the so-called school league tables and the method used to compile them, Standardised Assessment Tests or SATs. These tests have meant that children in England and Wales are the most tested in the world and are already unpopular with teachers. Motions at the last National Union of Teachers conference attempted to resurrect the successful NUT boycott of the tests. This would be popular in schools. So with teachers ready for a fight and disputes about, Pay, Allowances or Tests in the offing next term could be a vital one for teachers.

If you are a teacher or want to stay informed about the fight in education visit www.theclassissue.org for news and views from rank and file teacher militants.