Thursday 29 March 2012

At around miday and later at 4pm, teachers  and supporters gathered in the Market Square to protest at Nottingham City Council plan for a 5 term Year.

The NUT says, the first of what may be a series of strikes attracted strong support from members. Almost all the schools involved in the strike were completely or partially closed.

The day started with pickets at some schools that were remaining partially open.  From 10 am until 5:30 pm teachers were involved in activities outside the Council House in the Old Market Square. Leaflets were distributed to parents and public and around a thousand showed their support by signing our petition against the 5 Term Year.

At 12 noon strikers gathered in the Mrket Square to hear a few speakers explaining the reason for our strike.  Kevin Courtney Deputy General Secretary was amongst the speakers.

Public leafleting continued during the day until a further meeting for school workers not on strike was held at 4:30 pm.

The Nottingham Post ran a poll about the issue during the day and the results were as follows:

How do you feel about today's teachers' strike over the five-term year plans?

58%  I am against the five-term year plans and support the strike action

27%  I am in favour of the five-term year plans and do not support the strike action

10%  I am against the five-term year plans but do not support the strike action

4%   I am undecided

2%   I am in favour of the five-term year plans but support the strike action

A majority of the public are clearly opposed to the 5 Term Plan.

City Councillors had been invited to meet teachers at any time between 10 am and 5 pm but not one chose to do so.  In an email from Councillors Collins and Mellen to the NUT they wrote:

Members of the Labour Group discussed your request at a meeting on Monday evening, and whilst members of the Labour Group would be happy to meet NUT members, the NUT does not feel it appropriate that this meeting takes place in the middle of a school day.

Whilst their reluctance to meet teachers during the school day is somewhat petty, their refusal to do so even after school, shows how determined they are not to allow all Councillors to hear the views of members. A small group of Executive Councillors will not tolerate any open debate with all the elected Councillors of Nottingham.

They had offered to meet a delegation of NUT members at some future date but you can be sure this will only be with selected Councillors who have already indicated a refusal to negotiate on the key principles of the 5 Term Year.

Video : Nottingham teachers strike to save summer holidays

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mh1aHUSv6FQ

National Union of Teachers : Nottingham City

http://nottinghamcitynut.org

National Union of Teachers

http://www.nut.org

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ALAN LODGE 

Photographer - Media: One Eye on the Road. Nottingham.  UK

Email:                 tash@indymedia.org

Web:                   http://digitaljournalist.eu

Member of the National Union of Journalists [NUJ]

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"It is not enough to curse the darkness.

                                   It is also necessary to light a lamp!!"

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