100,000 J0B LOSSES PROTECTING OUR FUTURE Pay & Conditions the Socialist Teachers Alliance), had submitted an amendment seriously weakening the political content of the main motion.
This amendment was defeated but unfortunately the second one submitted by STA supporters that opposed the building of nuclear power stations and called for the affiliation to the main radical campaign, the Campaign against Climate Change, was also defeated. However the excellent main motion was passed.
The resistance to the government plans for Academies was a theme in many conference speeches and the Anti Academies Alliance held an excellent large fringe meeting on Saturday night. Presidents of the Teachers and Lecturers union ATL and University and College Union UCU spoke at the meeting - alongside Steve Sinnott, and the meeting received an email from Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT, sending "best wishes". The meeting indicated that there was a real possibility for a broad joint campaign on this issue around the country. The meeting resolved to support the committee of Inquiry 1n Parliament on June 12.
A motion on "Building schools for the future" was passed which alerted delegates to the massive privatisation of school buildings and services proposed by the government in its reconstruction of the school system.
Other resolutions passed were on false allegations against teachers, upper limit for temperatures in schools, and teacher mental health, during which the exPresident John Illingworth spoke again movingly on his personal experience.
As usual, NUT Conference passed many good resolutions which in the case of the political fund and the affiliation to StW and PSC involve real political advances. It remains to be seen whether the National Executive will really defend members or if another dubious compromise is produced that permits the steady erosion of teachers pay and conditions.
A key priority is to circulate the petition "Reopen the pay discussions - an urgent petition to Alan Johnson" to press the need for action on pay. The petition is available from the Socialist Teachers Alliance or Socialist Resistance office PO Box 1109 London N4 2UU.
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Get the facts from Keep Our NHS Public Campaigns are fighting back against cuts, closures and privatisation across the country: and one source which offers links to many local campaigns, a searchable archive of up to date information culled from the local and national press, background briefing material, campaign advice and much more is the Keep Our NHS Public website. KONP urgently needs funds to resource its campaigning activity and research into the new year. Make sure you and your organisation sign up, affiliate, and help build the campaign.
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