We welcome the calling of a national ballot starting this term to allow the NUT to take strike and non-strike action on issues such as pay and workload, as well as pensions. We enthusiastically share the aim of using this to secure joint strikes on all these issues alongside other teaching unions in the autumn term and beyond.

We commit ourselves to doing everything in our power to ensure the biggest possible Yes vote and the biggest possible turn out in the ballot.

We also believe, however, that the executive decision not to call national strike on pensions in June alongside other public sector unions was wrong as it went against the clear sentiment of a vote at NUT conference.
It was also a missed opportunity to keep momentum going in the pensions fight and could have helped in delivering the best possible result in the ballot.

We believe there is a strong case for proposing that joint action with other teaching unions in the autumn should begin with a one day national strike during the Conservative Party conference in early October.

We further believe that the fights on pensions, pay and workload would be strengthened if the union called a one day special conference in the autumn to involve the widest possible layer of members in a democratic discussion on the strategies needed in these fights to secure victories

Initial signatories:

Sheena Wheatley  Secretary Nottingham City NUT
Sandra Hall, joint secretary Hackney NUT
Chris Denson, Young Teachers Offficer (and join div sec elect) Coventry NUT
Scott Lyons, Assistant secretary Norfolk
Ceinwen Hilton, joint NUT rep City and Islington Sixth Form and Sixth Form Network
member
LJ Fisher, Yorksire Midlands delegate Young Teachers Advisory Committee
Tommy Izzett, joint NUT rep Central Foundation School, Tower Hamlets
Sally Kincaid, secretary Wakefield and District NUT
Bridget Chapman, Lambeth NUT
Jayne Sindon, senior Vice President Dudley NUT
Steve Smith, secretary Dereham and Fakenham NUT