FOR
NUT GENERAL SECRETARY, NOMINATE:
MARTIN POWELL-DAVIES
FOR A CANDIDATE WITH A CLEAR PROGRAMME TO DEFEND TEACHERS AND EDUCATION
FOR A TEACHERS' LEADER PAID ON THE SALARY OF A TEACHER
Martin’s
consistent work over a decade has helped build Lewisham NUT into a
strong, campaigning NUT Association. Week in, week out, he has been
helping colleagues to stand up to the pressures piled onto teachers. Lewisham
Joint Teacher Union Side Secretary
Martin
has consistently worked alongside local colleagues on the National
Executives of the NASUWT and ATL to co-ordinate our work and
campaigns, helping to encourage joint strike action with the NAS
over London Allowances. Unlike
his three opponents, Martin is still a classroom teacher,
experiencing SATs, OFSTED, excessive workload - and all the other
pressures we face - at first hand. Martin
has played a key part in many local and national Union campaigns. He
was Chair of School Teachers Opposed to Performance Pay, which
fought to build a serious national opposition to PRP, unlike the NUT
leadership. Martin
has long experience of speaking out for teachers on national radio
and TV, at Union meetings and Conferences and to the public. Father
of four primary children As
a parent, Martin is also only too aware of the harm being inflicted
by SATs, cuts, selection and the Government’s “Blue
Skies” plans for “teaching-on-the-cheap”
MARTIN
POWELL-DAVIES
Secretary of Lewisham NUT
Secondary teacher since 1986
Prominent Campaigner
Speaking up for teachers
Member of the Socialist Party
For too many
years, successive governments have piled on the pressure on teachers.
Divisive performance-related pay is in place, workload at an
unbearable intensity. Schools face cuts, teachers a pay freeze,
pensions are under attack.
But the NUT leadership - including John Bangs and Steve Sinnott - have to share much of the responsibility for failing to stand up to the relentless attacks on teachers and education. We need a General Secretary who we can trust to follow up words with the action needed to defend teachers. Martin can provide that leadership.
As both Association Secretary and as a classroom teacher, Martin is in touch with the everyday pressures confronting teachers – and he pledges to remain so. He would remain on the pay of a classroom teacher, using the rest of the present General Secretary salary (of over £100,000) to support education and trade union campaigns. He will make it a priority to visit schools and Union meetings.
Martin is the candidate who has a clear programme that can change the NUT. He is an experienced campaigner with the abilities to lead our Union. He can give voice to the discontent of ordinary teachers. His leadership can give NUT members the confidence to stand together in the interests of teachers and education.
Please nominate Martin
Lewisham NUT Officers Committee
NOMINATE
MARTIN
For a General Secretary in touch with teachers.
A General Secretary on a salary of over £100,000 cannot remain in touch with ordinary teachers struggling to pay their bills and mortgages.
I would remain on the pay of a classroom teacher, apart from claiming additional expenses needed to carry out my duties, using the rest of the existing GS salary to support local, national and international campaigns by teachers and trade unions.
DEFEND MEMBERS AGAINST MANAGEMENT BULLYING.
The Union has failed to adequately defend teachers against the pressures piled on to them by bullying managers and OFSTED inspections. Teachers need the support of a strong Union group to be more confident to stand up to unreasonable demands.
I would make sure that the Union puts the resources needed into a campaign to build strong Local NUT Associations and to win the facility time school reps and local officers need to support members.
For NUT action to OPPOSE EXCESSIVE WORKLOAD AND enforce a real “work-life balance”.
Teachers are working intolerable hours without adequate protection from either the Government’s “Workforce Agreement” or the NUT’s existing workload guidelines.
I would push to strengthen our workload action so that NUT members can refuse to carry out excessive planning, assessment and other demands on their time outside the school day and campaign for real reductions in workload, not least the Union’s demand for at least 20% non-contact time for all teachers.
FOR AN END TO SATS AND LEAGUE TABLES
Despite an 86% vote in favour of a boycott, the Union has left members in primary schools having to put children through damaging SATs once again.
I would maintain the campaign against SATS and build for a new ballot so that teachers could successfully boycott these damaging tests.
FOR TEACHER UNITY IN ACTION – FOR A CAMPAIGN TO PERSUADE ALL UNIONS TO WITHDRAW FROM THE “WORKFORCE AGREEMENT”.
The Government’s “deal” with other teaching and non-teaching unions has done little to reduce our workload or improve support staff pay but everything to allow New Labour to introduce “teaching-on-the-cheap”. We need to oppose it with action.
I would support strike action to oppose unqualified staff taking teaching posts and campaign for all TUC Unions – teaching and non-teaching - to withdraw from the damaging Agreement.
FOR THE FUNDS NEEDED TO MEET THE REAL NEEDS OF SCHOOLS. NO TO THE PRIVATE PROFITEERS.
New Labour have left schools without the funds they need to guarantee teachers job security, give all teachers non-contact time, rebuild and repair schools, and genuinely meet the needs of every child.
I would organise with other TUC Unions to link local struggles into a national campaign to oppose cuts and privatisation and defend public services.
DEFEND EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES.STRENGTHEN ANTI-RACISM
Cuts and selection have continued to undermine equal opportunities. Meanwhile press and politicians have encouraged parents and pupils to blame asylum seekers for their problems. The BNP gain from this racism and disillusionment with the main parties.
I would encourage NUT members to take up local campaigns against racist and fascist organisations and develop Union educational materials for use in schools.
THE RIGHT TO RETIRE ON A FULL PENSION AT 60. IMPROVE ACCESS TO EARLY RETIREMENT.
While more and more teachers are going under through the stress of teaching, the Government has announced plans that will force many teachers to work until they 65 if they want to retire with a full pension.
I would demand the TUC implement the national day of action on pensions agreed by Congress and, if they won’t, go ahead with the Unions who will.
FOR NATIONAL ACTION TO OPPOSE PERFORMANCE PAY
The Union failed to organise a serious campaign to stop the introduction of performance pay and is now standing by while the Government introduces a multi-year pay freeze and threatens the future of Management Allowances.
I would organise a national demonstration as a first step in a national campaign of action to defend our pay and conditions.
10.OPPOSE NEW LABOUR’S ATTACKS ON COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION. NO TO SELECTION. NO TO TOP-UP FEES.
Teachers have been let down by a Blair Government that promised so much but in reality has continued with divisive policies that attack comprehensive education.
I would step up our opposition to Blair’s attacks on education by calling for support for trade union backed candidates standing against New Labour.
11.TAKING A STAND IN THE TRADE UNION MOVEMENT
Like thousands of teachers, I was opposed to a war for oil in Iraq which has wasted thousands of lives and millions of pounds that could have been spent on our public services. Yet our leaders refused to allow the National Banner on the demonstrations.
I would make sure that the NUT took a full part in the wider campaigns of the trade union movement while seeking trade unionists’ support for our campaigns.
12. VOTE FOR A CHANGE
For too long, the NUT has failed to defend members against the attacks we face.
I will offer a real change from the old leadership and build a Union that will be prepared to organise serious campaigns to defend teachers and education.