NUT News 6:
10 April 2002
Teachers united on workload
NUT conference calls for unity in practice and in principle
Improvements to teachers' contracts and more support staff to resolve the excessive workload of teachers are called for in a joint resolution agreed by the ATL, the NASUWT and the NUT at their Easter Conferences. UCAC in Wales will debate the motion later.
The joint resolution is a united call to the Government for specified limits to pupil-contact time; for guaranteed time for preparation and assessment; and for time to meet parents and undertake other such professional duties. In Scotland, the McCrone Report adopted by employers, teachers and the Government already limits the working week to 35 hours.
Through the TUC, the four unions united will press the Treasury to release the funds necessary for the improvements needed in the working conditions and contracts of teachers.
They are committed to working with the employers and the support staff unions to agree a joint approach on the roles and responsibilities of teachers and support staff. The unions united seek progress through consultation and negotiation. The unions united will ballot members if there is no satisfactory outcome.
NUT renews call for unity
The NUT has reaffirmed its commitment to professional unity in a conference resolution that welcomes the prospect of movement by the NASUWT towards that goal. As this NUT NEWS was being prepared, reports of an urgency debate at the NASUWT's Conference suggested a rejection of the policy favouring professional unity.
For the present, the NUT is the only teachers' organisation that unreservedly supports professional unity. The NUT's unity policy meets the wishes of the majority of teachers.
General Secretary, Doug McAvoy, said: "The most important issue for teachers at the moment is excessive workload. We are near to achieving agreement on changes that could greatly improve the conditions of teachers and which would aid significantly recruitment and retention. Progress is possible if the Secretary of State and the Chancellor respond to the united call. The teachers' organisations will not accept a continuation of excessive demands and workload leading to stress. You, our members, will not let us."