Campaigns Update: November 2020

 

TOWER REWARDS – BALLOT FOR ACTION

We are aware that a letter is being circulated in schools which wrongly suggests that proposed changes to terms and conditions will not affect school staff and that our ballot may be unlawful.

Please reassure NEU colleagues that our ballot is entirely lawful, and that I am in regular contact with the relevant staff at NEU HQ throughout this process.

We are balloting because Tower Hamlets, as our employer, is asking schools to consider adopting the proposals in Tower Rewards, which will worsen our contractual terms and conditions. They are doing this without consulting the NEU, or other unions, via our established negotiating forum. Unison are also balloting their members, including school support staff – NEU and Unison are the two largest unions in Tower Hamlets.

The circulation of this letter is a deliberate attempt to cause confusion and our best response is to build the strongest possible vote in our ballot, which I know you are doing.

12 VOTES = 1%

Remember, just 12 votes is all it takes to increase the vote by 1%, so please do everything you can to build the vote stage by stage – here are some ideas:

• staffroom ballot box – make a ballot box for the staffroom or for your meeting
• baking for ballots – one Rep baked brownies to give to members in return for their completed ballot paper
• NEU visit to the post box – organise a lunchtime or after school visit for NEU members to post their ballots together – send us a photo
• I voted Yes photos – please print off copies of the attached sign and take a photo in your school meeting for us to share

KEEP A TALLY

Please try to keep a tally of how many people have voted in your school and let me know on the Friday of each week – this will help us target some of our energies.

Indicative Ballot over changes to terms and conditions and failure to consult with NEU

Following meetings in schools and the decision of members at our last General Members meeting on 25th November, we have been given approval to conduct an indicative ballot over changes to terms and conditions and the failure of the council to consult properly with the NEU.

We are working on the details, which will be finalised after our meeting with the Local Authority on Thursday.

At this stage our dispute is with the Local Authority so our ballot will only include members employed in Community schools and those who are centrally employed.

This means we will NOT be balloting members on VA schools or academies, who have a different employer – we will continue to consider the position of members in these schools as our campaign develops and will find ways for them to support our ballot and the campaign to get these proposals withdrawn.

Leaflet explaining the changes to terms and conditions

Model motion on changes to terms and conditions

The indicative ballot will take place this term and we need to make sure that every member knows what we are doing, why we are doing it and when we are doing it – please call a meeting in your school to discuss this and make sure members are ready for the ballot.

We will produce more materials but for the time being please use this leaflet we have been using in schools.

Membership Updates

We have sent text messages and emails to members asking them to check their membership details and update them if necessary.

Don’t forget you can check the membership list for your school here.

Once you have logged on and set up an account with the NEU. If you would prefer me to send a list for your school please let me know.

REPS BRIEFING • MONDAY 9th DECEMBER

We are holding a short briefing for NEU Reps on Monday 9th December at 5:00pm in Stepney Green School – please make a note in your diary and try to attend or send someone else from your school. We will have some mince pies!

Other News

VALUE EDUCATION – VOTE EDUCATION – School cuts leafleting • December 4th
Please talk to your head and make arrangements to distribute leaflets to parents – send us pictures.

For more details of how you can help get the vote out for education please see the NEU website

Launch of NEU Black Members Network • December 4th

Download invitation to circulate:  NEU Black Member Network invitation

Climate Emergency Day of Action • November 29th

Please find ways to support this in school – NEU guidance is available here – a Tower Hamlets protest rally is being held at 4:00pm in Altab Ali Park

UCU strike action
University lecturers are taking strike action over pay and pensions.

Please support UCU colleagues at Queen Mary College on their picket lines if you can.