As another year draws to a close, it is tempting to measure success by campaigns won, meetings attended or headlines generated. Yet the true story of Wirral NEU is found elsewhere. It is found in the colleague who discovered they were not facing a workplace problem alone. It is found in the school representative who stepped forward to support a member in difficulty. It is found in the quiet acts of solidarity that take place every day across our schools and colleges.
This has been a year that has tested education once again. Schools have continued to face challenges around funding, workload, recruitment and retention. Yet throughout these challenges, Wirral NEU has remained what it has always sought to be: a strong, democratic and compassionate union that stands up for educators and the children and young people they serve.
Standing Beside Members
The most important work of any union rarely attracts attention. It happens in private conversations, in moments of reassurance, in carefully prepared representations and in the confidence that comes from knowing someone has your back.
Throughout the year, Wirral NEU officers and workplace representatives have stood alongside members facing uncertainty and challenge. Whether addressing workload concerns, supporting colleagues through difficult procedures, or navigating complex organisational changes, the district has continued its proud tradition of ensuring that members are never left to face problems alone.
Time and again, we have seen the difference that collective action can make. Where individuals may feel isolated, the union provides strength. Where problems appear overwhelming, solidarity provides hope. That spirit remains at the heart of everything we do.
Defending Education
The fight for education has remained central to our work throughout the year.
Across the borough, members have spoken passionately about the need for properly funded schools, manageable workloads and a profession that attracts and retains talented staff. Through the Save Education campaign, Wirral NEU has continued to work with parents, communities and fellow trade unionists to make the case that education is one of society’s greatest investments and deserves protection.
At every opportunity, the district has championed the idea that schools thrive when educators are trusted, valued and supported. That message has guided our campaigns and informed our contributions to local and national debates about the future of education.
Finding Our Voice
One of the defining features of the year has been the growing visibility of Wirral NEU.
Increasingly, the district has become a recognised and respected voice on educational issues, ensuring that the experiences of classroom practitioners are heard whenever important discussions take place.
When summer heatwaves turned classrooms into challenging environments for staff and students alike, Wirral NEU highlighted the reality facing many schools. The district spoke publicly about the condition of school buildings and the impact that extreme temperatures can have on teaching, learning and wellbeing. In doing so, it helped bring attention to issues that many educators experience daily but which are too often overlooked.
The district also contributed to national conversations surrounding school inspection and accountability. When proposals for a new Ofsted framework were published, Wirral NEU challenged whether the changes would truly address the pressures experienced by staff and schools. By speaking clearly and confidently, the district ensured that educators remained part of the debate about the future of inspection.
The growing presence of Wirral NEU in public discussion has not been about chasing headlines. It has been about ensuring that the voices of teachers, leaders and support staff are heard whenever decisions affecting education are being made.
Welcoming Daniel Kebede
A particular highlight of the year was welcoming Daniel Kebede, General Secretary of the National Education Union, to the Wirral.
His visit provided a powerful reminder that the work taking place in our schools, workplaces and communities forms part of a wider movement stretching across the country. Members had the opportunity to discuss the challenges facing education, share their experiences and hear directly from the leader of the largest education union in Europe about the importance of collective action and organisation.
The visit was both energising and inspiring. It reinforced the belief that meaningful change is won when educators stand together and it recognised the important campaigning and organising work being undertaken by members and representatives across the district. At a time when education continues to face significant challenges, Daniel’s visit served as a reminder that our movement is strongest when members are active, engaged and united.
Equality, Remembrance and International Solidarity
Trade unionism is about more than workplaces. It is rooted in a belief that solidarity extends beyond our own immediate concerns and connects us to wider struggles for equality, dignity and justice.
Throughout the year, Wirral NEU has continued to champion inclusion and equality, supporting community events and demonstrating our commitment to creating a society in which everyone is treated with respect and dignity.
Particularly significant has been the work led by our International Officer, Neil Sledge, around Remembering Srebrenica and Holocaust Memorial Day. Through education, reflection and community engagement, members have helped keep alive important lessons about prejudice, division and the consequences of hatred. These activities remind us that education plays a vital role in building understanding, promoting tolerance and safeguarding democracy.
Remembering Paul Ronayne
No review of this year would be complete without reflecting on the loss that has touched our district following the sudden passing of Paul Ronayne.
Paul was far more than our District Treasurer. He was a committed trade unionist, a trusted colleague, a valued friend and a passionate advocate for members. His dedication to the union and to the principles of fairness, equality and solidarity earned him immense respect throughout the district.
Many members will remember Paul’s calm counsel, his generosity of spirit and his unwavering commitment to doing what was right. He understood that a union is not simply an organisation but a community, bound together by mutual support and collective action.
His passing has left a profound void, but his influence remains woven into the fabric of the district he helped build. Every time we support a member, challenge an injustice or stand together in solidarity, we honour the values that Paul embodied.
Looking Ahead
As we look towards the future, we do so carrying both pride and purpose.
Pride in the members who have stood together throughout another challenging year.
Pride in the representatives and officers who have worked tirelessly in support of colleagues.
Pride in a district that has continued to campaign, organise and speak out for education.
From supporting members in their workplaces, to welcoming Daniel Kebede to the Wirral; from speaking out on school funding, heatwaves and inspection reform, to promoting equality, remembrance and international solidarity, this year has demonstrated the strength, compassion and determination of our union.
The challenges facing education have not disappeared. There is still much work to do. But if this year has shown us anything, it is that when educators stand together, our collective voice remains a powerful force for change.
Together we stand. Together we campaign. Together we remember. Together we move forward.
In solidarity, and in memory of Paul Ronayne.