SEELB Debacle

by Rogue Fri Jul 07, 2006 22:02

I agree with comments above. As a non teaching Union member I have had to come to terms with the fact that the teaching Unions are too far in their own comfort zone to care about anything else. It really saddens me that this group of workers could really have a strong hand if only they would take off the blinkers that focus their thoughts in the one direction, self, self, self. I also agree with the points made about teaching Union leaders turning up when the fight is over to congratulate themselves on doing such a good job. I had to laugh when I saw the NASUWT bulletins proudly stating how they had fought in the recent pensions dispute!
working in school I often hear about the pressure and stress the teachers are under on a day to day basis. These people are supposedly well educated, so I'm somewhat confused that they can't see the implications for THEMSELVES if the current under funding of education isn't opposed by EVERYONE.

by History teacher - NASUWT Sat Jul 08, 2006 00:30

Many teachers know that cuts affect us all. However this sympathy cannot be left to words of support. If we as teachers can bypass our commitment to pupil learning by setting work to be done at home, to organising with parents to supervise learning out of school hours, we can give our support by striking with a clear conscience.

These cuts affect us all, can the non-teaching unions bypass the conservative leadership of the teaching unions and petition teachers to show their support. I

In solidarity with the non-teaching staff, in full knowledge that schools cannot run with out you. Teachers like myself need a forum/ coalition where we can organise and put our position forward..in the teaching unions at the moment there is little solidarity with non-teaching staff..this position must change.

Mobilise the grass roots, target the newly qualified, convince those scared of a witch hunt to stand against the cuts and lack of real funding, there are so many issues with which to unite this sector.

In solidarity

by Patrique - nipsa Sat Jul 08, 2006 02:10

The turn out on 6th July was disappointing, and a big thank you must go to those who did attend, Unison, NIPSA, T and G, and a few political parties, notably The Workers' Party and Socialist Party. There were others, who deserve credit, but this is education we are talking about.

Already the number of school leavers who can barely read or write is alarming, and coupled with "text speak", very few will be able to construct a sentence in about ten years. Education is a basic human right, and shouild naturally be free to all, including further education right up to and including university. Every country in the world practically spends more on education than Britain, and our master, the good old US of A. We spend ours on defence. Against whom?

Even Cuba, with all its faults and having been "starved" for nearly 50 years by an American blockade, their adult literacy and numeracy rates are far in excess of here. So is the overall standard of education.

N.Ireland used to be proud of its education record. When returning to N.Ireland in 1986, when asked by English friends "why would you want to go back to all that trouble?" I used to say it was to get the kids educated. Hard to make that claim now.

Of course a lack of education makes people more aquiescent to their masters, and that is perhaps why the numbers at the rally were low. The old "sure what can you do" syndrome raised its ugly head, and people just accept that they are powerless.

It is high time that all the unions and political parties united to oppose these cuts, and that includes teachers.

You may have noticed how much better organised the "educated people" are when it comes to opposing changes in the 11 plus. We all need educated. Get organised now.

by Davy carlin Sat Jul 08, 2006 10:46

This is an essential issue and well done those who where there, I seen my aul branch 8 banner at it on TV, Also well done to the NIPSA and SP member who was interviewed, well said - Respect.

Also Quote above -

' If the INTO are not going to do anything useful on this matter, then could Frank Bunting please have the decency to keep his mouth shut, and let the activist who are doing something do the talking.,

Spot on

Indeed everyone should put there weight behind such an essentail issue both visible and otherwise.

As above re - Patrique

' It is high time that all the unions and political parties united to oppose these cuts, and that includes teachers.

Sound point Patrique

by .... - NIPSA517 Sat Jul 08, 2006 11:15 nipsa517 at seelb dot org dot uk

Just a few quick points.

The protest has been one of a series since March.
The numbers where about what was expected at this time of year, it is worth remembering that last Friday education more or less came to a halt for the year and that everyone who could be on holidays was. This protest is the second biggest ever held at the SEELB Board HQ which is not an easy venue for prople to get to. In this context we where very happy with the result.

It is true to say that the full weight of the teachers unions has not been applied to this issue and that is disappointing but locally reps from INTO and NASUWT have played a very good role. It is worth looking at the role of all the unions.

The campaign so far has delivered concrete results. approx £500,000.00 has been forced from the government, the cuts have been delayed and a number of special needs units earmarked for closure have been kept open. In addition the undemocratic nature of the Boards and the governments handling of education has been exposed.

Finally, a big thank you to all who took part. Hopefully there will be a full report on the News section this weekend. Good to see people taking an interest on Indymedia.

Anyone wishing to discuss/get involved in the campaign please contact the e mail address.

by Davy Carlin Sat Jul 08, 2006 11:19

Sound, and again well done .

Solidarity - D

by Roger C - NIPSA 517 Sat Jul 08, 2006 12:41

I'd like to add my personal thanks to all those who took part in the demo on the 6th July. Especially to those outside the education sector, your solidarity was very much appreciated. I agree with what has been said above concerning getting ALL the unions involved. However being realistic unless something seismic happens with the teaching unions we (The non teaching unions) at a union level are on our own. There are some notable individual exceptions as witnessed by the presence of a few teachers at the demonstration, and at previous rallies and meetings, and the comments of the "History teacher" above. To them I say, organise, activate your union, it belongs to you, you pay for it. Maybe just maybe this could be the start of something seismic.

by Rogue Sun Jul 09, 2006 12:26

Patrique, That is a very good point, re- the frantic campaign by some schools in defence of the 11+. I witnessed at first hand the time, effort, and commitment put into orchestrating this action. Another relevant point was the teaching staff showing their true colours being such willing participants. After all what could be better getting brownie points with their bosses, and keeping their own privileged possition. The fact that further on down the (In ther eyes) "food chain" the education system is going down the tubes for the want of propper funding is ignored. Lets not allow morals get in the way of the preservation of privilege.

by Seán Ryan Sun Jul 09, 2006 13:05

The Department of Education has no purpose other than to facilitate spending as little as possible, whilst at the same time promoting the idea that we educate our children.

Education in this country is a disgrace, and this argument cannot and should not be countered by pointing out other countries, where education can be seen, to be at a more disgraceful level.

Related Link:
A quick journey through enslavement - sometimes called our educational system - http://www.indymedia.ie/article/74008

by A Sun Jul 09, 2006 13:51

I am not surprised that the middle classes in their frenzy to keep the privilege of the 11+ put the class interests of their children before the interests of working class children, after all, what do you expect from a pig but a grunt.

What is harder to understand is why the warriors who are fighting for the abolition of the 11+ have so little time for the battle for funds for children in the education system now?

by Roger C - NIPSA 517 Sun Jul 09, 2006 18:39

There is a cartoon in the Sunday life today depicting a large figure (department of Education) spanking a small figure SEELB with the speech bubble "and this is for continually getting your sums wrong!" On the board are two sums 1+1=5 and 2X3=8
We need to keep in mind that it's not numbers on a page or a board, it's human lives.
1 childs future = £?? who has the right to put a price on that?

by sam and laura Mon Jul 10, 2006 23:14

Attending the protest on the 6th we also noticed a lack of attendance. mainly from the teachers unions. it doesnt give a very positive image of the teachers dedication to their pupils. the unions are all for standing against the cuts but when push comes to shove it is highly unlikely that those unions will back us for anything. there are a few exceptions from each union but not many. We feel thanks is in order for the parents who did attend the demonstration but there should have been more. many people are under the impression that these cuts wont affect them but they will and the bad turn out reflects this mentality. During the meeting there was clear separation between the elected representatives and the so called 'great and the good'. at one point one of the independants was out of the room for a vote and when they came back in they were told to raise their hand which they did BEFORE asking what they were voting on. at every vote it was so predictable what the outcome was going to be and it was a disgrace. it was disgraceful the way they were voting. it is about time they started thinking about what they are doing to the education system and the people who it affects.

by ./ - Socialist Party (personal capacity) Tue Jul 11, 2006 01:23

Most contributions on this thread quite rightly comment on the limits of the campaign against the education cuts but it is worth noting the successes so far.

Last year when the crisis in education first developed the non teaching unions where able to organise the biggest strike held in education in Northern Ireland. There was a huge response at that time, many workers who had never been on strike before took part and the campaign scored a notable success forcing the government to, provide an extra £12.3 million in cash and to allow continuing spending on children in the SEELB. At that time the campaign did not reach a final victory but the government was forced to retreat from the worst of the cuts for a year. A further development of strike action involving the teacher unions would have been necessary to force the government to change course.

In this phase, 2006, of the campaign the picture has changed considerably. The campaign is concentrated in the SEELB area rather than across the five Boards, there has been insufficient time to build strike action and the end of the school year has been reached. The key issue has been that the unions have not provided any leadership except in NIPSA and UNISON and even then it is mainly the branch activists in the SEELB who have been the driving force. The leadership of the teachers unions appear to have largely accepted the government arguments for cuts lock stock and barrel, there have been members of these unions who have shown a great determination to oppose the cuts but they have not been able to effect a change at leadership level. Parents are increasingly aware of the issues and are fighting on an issue by issue basis, parents of special needs children fighting for special needs, parents with children at schools marked for closure fighting for their schools, parents of children who have had their bus pass withdrawn fighting for bus passes. But at this point the various struggles have not been joined up. The overall picture though is not negative. There is more teacher participation, there is more parent participation and the campaign in the SEELB has been strong despite numerous difficulties.

In the last four months the campaign has succeeded in keeping Special needs units open, forcing well over a million pounds additional funding from the government and forcing education onto the political agenda. For parents, staff and children these are real victories.

The key question is how to take the campaign forward. Building the militancy of UNISON and NIPSA members, fighting to change teacher unions and linking up the various local cuts campaigns are critical steps in taking the movement forward. One very important development at the last protest was the participation of young people. A huge boost to the struggle would be their further active participation.

Although this is not going to be an easy campaign, it has to deal with all the problems facing the movement in all areas, the continued hold of an old conservative right wing leadership in the unions, a relatively low level of struggle in society as a whole and the need for the greater organisation of parents and young people.
There is one huge advantage; the movement against education cuts is building on success.

A united militant campaign can put the final nail in the coffin (anybody got one?) of New Labour education policy.