nutshells #53 sept 05
DESCRIPTION
The newsletter of the Plymouth National Union of TeachersTRANSCRIPT
All the teacher unions will be joining in the consultation exercises that will later involve school governors. Early in the term, meetings will be arranged for union groups to discuss the new structure and how the TLRs will be a l l o c a t e d f o r specific tasks in their schools. Do
you know when your meetings are taking place?Reps should seek advice from the NUT where specific concerns are raised by members and
when individuals seem to be “at risk” from loss of pay or status.Just one more point—see page 4 to read a very important clause
our aim—one union for all teachersNow even more essential that you join the NUT
Call the Joining Hotline 0845 300 1669“if you ask them—they will join”
Professional Unity Makes Sense !
TLRs and Restructuring—
It’ll All Be Over By Christmas!
The challenge to re-structure all state schools by December will dominate your after-school meetings this term. Every headteacher has a statutory duty to consult with union reps and staff members so their comments on the proposals can be used to inform changes and modifications. This will ensure fairness and prevent colleagues from losing pay under the new Teaching and LearningResponsibility payments (TLR) regime.Rather than just manage the disappointment and anger of those Plymouth teachers currently receiving Management Allowances (MAs) who may miss out on the award of a TLR, the NUT will actively support current and newly joining members to maintain their status in new school-management structures.
The fifty-third NUT Newsletter for Plymouth Teachers September 2005
MAKEPOVERTYHIS
TORY—MUST T
RY HARDER
“It’ll all end in tiers…”
Man. Allowances New TLR Allowance RangesMA1 £ 1,638 TLR2 from £ 2,250MA2 £ 3,312 to £ 5,500MA3 £ 5,688 TLR 1 from £ 6,500MA4 £ 7,833 to £ 11,000MA5 £ 10,572
Frozen since April 2003
Schools can choose pay points within these ranges, provided that
they are separated by at least £1,500
Plymouth Division: David Smale 01503 240527President: Des Walsh 01752 567602
[email protected] Office: 1 Lower Avenue Exeter 01392 258028
Always quote your membership number, a brief outline of your enquiry and contact details. If the matter
is very urgent please contactRegional Office
NUT Black Teachers’ Conference
‘What About Us?’
Recruitment, Retention and Progression of Black TeachersFriday 14th to Sunday 16th October
NottinghamContact Martin: [email protected]
NUT LGBT Teachers’ Conference 2005
A one day conference open to all teachers with an interest in creating
equality within schools for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender teachers and students
Changing Culture: Creating Safer Spaces and Making Homophobia Taboo in Schools Saturday 19th
November 2005 NUT HQ, Hamilton House London.Contact Martin: [email protected]
TOLPUDDLE
2005
Tony Benn said, “There are about five thousand people sitting in front of me — the same number of trade unionists murdered in Colombia over the last 10 years.”
Tolpuddle 2005—for security reasons I’m unable to say exactly where I went on my annual vacation, but on one day in July I drove over to Tolpuddle in Dorset where, in 1834, agricultural workers organised together in an attempt to protect their livelihood.They were convicted and transported to New South Wales and Van Dieman’s land. The outrage this provoked resulted in free pardons and their return to England—an historic episode in the struggle for trade unionists’ rights.By standing together and working co-operatively with other trade unionists teachers will have a stronger voice. Only one union is actively seeking professional unity in the teaching profession...
NUT marquee staff and keynote speaker Tony Benn
Clockwise from left—the NUT marquee, pole action by Vince Allen and Peter Sargent supporting the SW Region banner, the parade of union banners, Tony Benn, the head of the march, and NUT flags
Tolpuddle photos by Vince Allen, David Smale
and BBC South
TLRs & PPATLRs
The Government's freezing of management allowances (MAs) was a pay cut. Now the introduction of Teaching and Learning Responsibility payments (TLRs) could bring further pay cuts to thousands of teachers.
The NUT is monitoring the progress of the staffing reviews under way inPlymouth schools. It will support its members, balloting for action
in individual schools if necessary, where:♦ timetables for consultation and negotiation have not been agreed;
♦ the NUT at any level has been refused consultation on staffing reviews;
♦ unacceptable decisions have been made without consultation;
♦ proposals for new staffing structures have been adopted that vary widelyfrom the existing structures, to the detriment of teachers;
♦ teachers with MAs are not offered TLRs that are at least equivalent; and
♦ teachers face reductions in pay.
NUT school representatives should contact their localdivisions if any of the above situations arise in their schools.
PPA TIMEThis term sees the introduction of a guaranteed entitlement of teachers to
10% of the timetable as time to plan, prepare and assess (PPA).NUT members are advised that where, in rare circumstances, they are obliged to
prepare/set work for planned absence (which does not include PPA time) that such work be provided on the basis that it is to be used by a qualified teacher.
The NUT will support members where:♦ PPA is not provided for teachers or is provided at less than the guaranteed
proportion of timetable; or♦ the arrangements to provide PPA use, in ways that are not acceptable,
persons who are not qualified to teach
Speakers about Trade Unions available to schools in the South WestPreparing young people for the challenges and opportunities of employment is increasingly important, especially at a time of rapid change in the world of work and the South West TUC has established panels of speakers to deliver talks to school children about rights at work and the importance of trade unionism.The “In2Schools” Team can talk to students of any age from Primary school children to College age young people around a variety of subject areas including Citizenship, PHSE and work experience. The team is comprised of young trade union activists from around the South West region from a range of unions and workplaces. To invite a speaker contact the TUC Regional Education Officer (REO) for the South West - Marie Hughes by telephone (0117 947 0521) or email [email protected]
A Better Way to Work – TUC resource pack for KS4+The TUC also produces a resource pack for teachers called “A Better Way to Work” which isprimarily aimed at school students studying at Key Stage 4 in schools, providing activities which help teachers to prepare students for work experience, citizenship and other work-related activities. The pack is divided into five sections which deal with: The role of trade unions, Rights and responsibilities, Health and Safety, Equal opportunities and The future of work.“A Better Way to Work” encourages an active and experiential approach to teaching and learning. Pupils are given tasks which involve them working in groups, finding things out for themselves, taking on roles, interviewing people at workplaces and forming their own opinions. The “In2Schools” Team can be used as an additional resource when running sessions from “A Better Way to Work.”A copy of the pack is available FREE for each secondary school or college, although a contribution of £7.00 is charged to cover postage and packing. To order a copy, write to EDS, Education House, Castle Road, Sittingbourne, Kent ME10 3RL
NUT comments onsummer exam results
♦ Increased grades are due to hard work and good t eac h ing and t hos e denigrating them are not being fair to students and teachers.
♦ The achievements of students and teachers are to be praised !
♦ The Tomlinson proposals should be re-considered ♦ There should be an investigation into the falling numbers
taking languages
It’s still 30 000 deaths every day
caused by needlesspoverty
Tony Benn said, “Don’t just ask why poor countries are poor, ask how rich countries became rich…”
What advice does
the education
secretary have for
Plymouth
teachers this month?
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MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY DVDThe NUT DVD produced by film director
Richard Curtis was despatched to Divisions in June. This is now available to download from the NUT website.
Free copies of this moving and dramatic recording may also be obtained on disc from [email protected]
Paragraph 33The RIG Guidance on moving from MAs to TLRs highlights the issue of teachers taking on additional teaching and learning tasks and not being paid for them in the past and how this should be viewed post-Dec 2005. In full it states:
33. In reality schools, other than very small schools, are likely to seek to develop a [school] structure which has a range of posts. In devising the structure, head-teachers will need to take into account all previously-held responsibilities, paid or unpaid, and consider those for which there is a continuing need. A structure should not be based on the assumption that teachers who have previously had additional unremunerated responsibilities focused on teaching and learning will continue to carry them out.Read it again to make sure it says what we believe it says!