NASUWT Annual Conference 2015
Published:
NASUWT Conference in Cardiff from April 2 to 6 highlighted the inextricable link between teachers' pay and conditions of service and the provision of high-quality public education for all children and young people. Since 2010, teachers throughout the UK have experienced deep cuts to pay, detrimental changes to pension provision, increasing workload and attacks to their condition of service. Major structural changes, including widespread privatisation and marketisation of education has been coupled with relentless denigration of teachers' professional competence, status and qualification.
Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT said: "Flexibilities are being used to depress teachers' pay, not to raise standards. Consequently, teaching has become increasingly unattractive, leading to the current recruitment and retention crisis."
The Union also drew the attention to the impact of government social, economic and welfare policies on the education sector, emphasizing the link between poverty and homelessness. A survey of more than 2,400 teachers from the NASUWT showed that some children are arriving at school hungry, tired and ill and unable to concentrate or learn. 3.7 million children are now living in poverty in the UK.
Apart from the different motions which were adopted at the Congress attended by 1,000 delegates, several "fringe meetings" were organised on different topics: pension reform, the future for public services, quality education for all, TTIP and the impact of global markets.
According to Patrick Roach, Deputy General Secretary of the NASUWT and EI Vice-President, international solidarity is always necessary especially when attacks on teachers' unions continue in a hostile and adverse political climate. Odile Cordelier, Vice-President of ETUCE, participated in this Annual Conference and was impressed by the campaign led by the union "Reclaim the promise - Vote for education", in order to convince public opinion and political leaders in the context of the General Election on 7 May 2015, that investment in education should be a priority for government.