The huge national demonstration on 15th March was another landmark moment for the NEU. An estimated 60,000 people brought London to a standstill, marching through Piccadilly before filling Trafalgar Square and the surrounding streets.
Our pressure and strike action are working
Aerial footage (Found Here) showed the march stretching back from Piccadilly Circus to the original starting point. Among the speakers, from trade unions, and supporting organisations, was Paul Whiteman, General Secretary of the National Association of Headteachers (NAHT). Again we saw NEU members using their professional creativity and humour, to get our message across in thousands of home–made placards. It seems that glue sticks have become the symbol of the crisis affecting our schools.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Our pressure has forced the government into “intensive talks”, which will take place over the next couple of weeks (see press release). We will continue campaigning in this time to have an impact on negotiations. We hope that those talks will produce an improved offer on pay and funding for this year and next year. Members will be asked to vote on whether they wish to accept or reject any offer from the government. The Executive and Annual Conference will discuss plans for further strike action. We want to be ready to strike again, if the talks fail to produce an outcome acceptable to members. We will be prepared for all eventualities and you will know clearly what the options are in advance. In the meantime we will continue to put pressure on politicians and build support amongst parents.
It is your actions that have brought us to a much more positive place.
Joint Press Release
“The Government and the education trade unions, Association of School and College Leaders, National Association of Head Teachers, NASUWT and National Education Union, have agreed to move into a period of intensive talks. The talks will focus on teacher pay, conditions and workload reduction. ‘In order for talks to begin and, we hope, reach a successful conclusion, the NEU has confirmed it will create a period of calm for two weeks during which time they have said no further strike dates will be announced. The Education Secretary and all the unions will meet today (Friday 17 March), beginning intensive talks, which will continue over the weekend”.