NUT News 2

Time for a new contract!

23 January 2002

TUC affiliated teachers' organisations agree joint demands

The School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Review Body is to receive a joint submission from the teachers' associations affiliated to the TUC in England and Wales - the NUT, NASUWT , ATL and UCAC.

For all teachers

A thirteen-point package has been agreed to secure reductions in working hours and in workload. The TUC affiliated teachers' associations and PAT are seeking limits to working hours and class sizes. They are demanding guaranteed support time for all teachers and increased support in their teaching and administrative roles.

NAHT and SHA say no!

The NAHT and SHA refused to support the joint submission. They prefer instead to direct teachers rather than work with them.

The thirteen point package

  1. * an overall limit to working hours;
  2. * a maximum limit on teaching time;
  3. * a maximum limit on hours within directed time for other duties including meetings;
  4. * guaranteed times for marking and preparation in direct proportion to teaching time, with one hour of such support time for every two hours teaching;
  5. * half of the support time should be within directed time with no more than 50 per cent being outside directed time;
  6. * statutory guidance on working time arrangements;
  7. * new limits on obligations to undertake cover with compensatory time off for cover undertaken voluntarily beyond those limits;
  8. * increased administrative support with each classroom teacher being entitled to at least three hours per week clerical support;
  9. * a clearly defined list of tasks that should not be routinely expected of teachers;
  10. * an entitlement to decide where work should be undertaken when not teaching or reasonably required for school duties;
  11. * removal of the notorious open-ended work requirement in section 59.8 of the School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document;
  12. * limits to class size; and
  13. * no increase in the working year but better use of the five non-pupil days for collaborative planning and professional development.

General Secretary, Doug McAvoy, said: "Through campaigning and working together, the teachers' organisations affiliated to the TUC have put together a package of reforms and improvements that would revolutionise teachers' working lives. There are indications from the employers and from Government that the prospects of a new improved contract for teachers are greater now than they have been for 15 years. It is sad but significant that the NAHT and SHA should decline to support the proposals. Headteachers and deputy headteachers who would wish to be with their colleagues in seeking an improved contract will be welcome in the National Union of Teachers."

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