Skip to content or view screen version

Statement from NUT executive members in support of the school walk outs

schools strike | 22.11.2010 12:22 | Education | Public sector cuts | Social Struggles | Sheffield | World

We the undersigned members of the National Union of Teachers National Executive wish to express our wholehearted support for, and solidarity with, the national day of protests and walkouts being organised by the National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts on November 24th.

The student demonstration against fees on November 10th has provided a huge boost to all those organising to fight cuts and defend public services. The turnout on that demonstration was the most effective response possible to all those who claimed that young people were apathetic and unwilling to fight.

We hope that the day of action on the 24th will be a huge success and reinforce that message. It is clear that many thousands of sixth formers and other school pupils are planning walkouts on November 24th. These young people will be the primary victims of the Coalition’s proposal to raise the cap on fees and to savagely cut university funding. They are absolutely right to be angry about this and their keenness to be involved in the protest against fees and cuts is a tribute to them. We stand wholly in support of those school students who take part in the NCAFC protests on November 24th.

We urge our members in schools to do what they can to support pupils who wish to protest and to avoid, as far as possible, any instruction to prevent walkouts or to retrospectively discipline pupils who take part. We encourage NUT groups to meet and consider ways in which they can collectively support protesting pupils, protect them from any disciplinary action and send them messages of support to pupils taking part.

Gill Goodswen, National President
Nina Franklin, Senior Vice President
Patrick Murphy
Hazel Danson
Chris Blakey
Ian Leaver
Nick Wigmore
Dave Harvey
Pete Bevis
Simon Jones
Tony Tonks
(this list will be updated as more sign)

***
Thanks to Patrick Murphy for initiating the statement.

 http://anticuts.com/2010/11/21/statement-from-national-union-of-teachers-executive-members-in-support-of-the-24th-november-walkoutday-of-action/

schools strike