Leicester NUT Newsletter http://www.leicesternut.org.uk Tue, 09 Oct 2007 11:12:55 GMT Tue, 09 Oct 2007 09:00:00 GMTThe NUT will be holding an inaugural Midlands Women's Conference in central Birmingham on Saturday 10th March. For more details: nut-campaigns.org.uk/1RS-NWU3-683DOS51DB/cr.aspx ...http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=792http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=792Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:44:53 GMTCurrent and planned changes to 14-19 Education are going to affect students and teachers in Secondary Education, with potential job cuts in some subject areas and a worsening of pay and conditions as school provision is merged with FE provision. Primary teachers will also be interested in what the future holds for their children. Background The number of young people out of work or education rose from 895,000 at the end of 2009 to 927,000 in 2010 and over a million by the end of 2011. ...http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=791http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=791Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:37:38 GMT"These heads of agreement deliver the Government's key objectives in full, and do so with no new money since our November offer. In future, pension ages will match the state pension age, future schemes will be on a career average basis, and all the agreements are within the cost ceiling I set in November, and will save the taxpayer tens of billions over the decades to come." Danny Alexander (Treasury Minister - 20/12/11) At the start of the Christmas holidays the government set the public sector unions an ultimatum to agree that we should work longer and pay more to get less. ...http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=790http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=790Mon, 09 Jan 2012 17:59:36 GMTOver the past eighteen months the government has shown contempt for H&S, typified by the outrageous comments by David Campbell who linked the 'H&S culture' with the August riots, which seemed to suggest that members of the emergency services should be expected to put their lives at risk in order to save property. The Young Report, 'Common Sense: Common Safety', suggested the removal of many safeguards, including the abolition of the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority that was established after the Lyme Bay tragedy, to try to protect children from inept activity providers. ...http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=789http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=789Mon, 05 Dec 2011 23:31:13 GMTStatistics show that teachers suffer more from stress than any other profession. In Leicester, over the past five years, absence through work related stress has trebled. It is by far the most common cause of long term absence. The Health and Safety Executive recognises stress as a significant problem. It has issued Stress Management Standards for employers, intended to get employers to take the issue seriously. However, it does not have sufficient staff to enforce these. ...http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=788http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=788Mon, 05 Dec 2011 23:24:58 GMTNegotiations between all the unions and the government continued on the day after last week's strike. At the moment we are still being asked to pay more, work longer and get less, and the government still refuses to carry out a valuation of our scheme. We know that since 1923 £46 billion more has been paid into our scheme than has been paid out! The NUT's National Executive meets this week to discuss what progress, if any, has been made and to discuss the continuation of our industrial action after Christmas. ...http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=787http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=787Mon, 05 Dec 2011 23:19:20 GMTSchools fully closed to pupils on November 30 Abbey PrimaryAvenue PrimaryBarley CroftBelgrave St Peter'sBraunstone Community PrimaryBraunstone Frith InfantBridge JuniorBuswells LodgeCaldecote PrimaryCatherine InfantCatherine JuniorCharnwood PrimaryChrist the KingColeman PrimaryDovelands PrimaryEvington ValleyEyres MonsellFolville JuniorFosse PrimaryGlebelands PrimaryGranby PrimaryHighfields PrimaryHoly CrossHope HamiltonHumberstone InfantImperial AvenueInglehurst InfantInglehurst JuniorKing Richard III InfantKnighton Fields PrimaryLinden PrimaryMarriott PrimaryMayflower PrimaryMedway Community PrimaryMellor Community PrimaryMerrydale InfantMerrydale JuniorMontrose SchoolMowmacre Hill PrimaryNorthfield HouseOverdale InfantOverdale JuniorParks PrimaryQueensmead PrimaryRolleston PrimaryRowlatts Hill PrimaryRushey Mead PrimarySandfield CloseShaftesbury JuniorSlater PrimarySparkenhoe PrimarySpinney Hill PrimarySt BarnabasSt Joseph'sSt. ...http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=786http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=786Mon, 05 Dec 2011 23:17:58 GMTAn early start for some, with pickets at Wyggeston & Queen Elizabeth 1 College and Regent College starting at 7am, began a magnificent show of strength by trade unionists in Leicester. Up to 5,000 members of 25 different trade unions, with more than 1,000 teachers, assembled on high street at 11am. Led by a piper, with additional music from Soft Touch Samba Band from The Red Leicester Choir, public sector workers were cheered and applauded by bystanders as they marched to Orton Square for a rally at The Athena. ...http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=785http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=785Mon, 05 Dec 2011 23:05:41 GMTLeicester, 30th November 2011 NUT Deputy General Secretary Kevin Courtney's speech: ...http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=784http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=784Sat, 03 Dec 2011 13:05:43 GMTAll out on 30th November The NUT will be joining more than twenty other public sector unions striking in defence of our pensions.  Join the march and rally. March with hundreds of NUT members and other public sector workers. Rally at The Athena at 12pm Assemble 11am, High Street Music from Matt and Kath from KGB Jazz, and Grace Petrie ...http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=783http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=783Fri, 25 Nov 2011 08:11:37 GMTAt Education Scrutiny Committee in October it was confirmed that over £6m is being spent at present on OoC placements in mainly private schools for 94 pupils, mainly on the Autism spectrum or with SEBD. This followed an announcement at Schools Forum that there had been yet another overspend of £1m plus. NUT and the other unions have consistently argued that the city should be making or creating in-city provision for these pupils, especially given the huge BSF input into the city. ...http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=782http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=782Mon, 14 Nov 2011 22:02:51 GMTIf you haven't already ordered your Christmas cards and wrapping paper, consider ordering them from TSN. Teacher Support Network is the only independent charity dedicated to the health and well being of teachers in England and Wales. All profits from the sale of cards and gifts will be used to help teachers and their families via a free, confidential support service. teachersupport.info/online-shop/Christmas-Cards-and-Gifts. ...http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=781http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=781Mon, 14 Nov 2011 22:01:01 GMTSo what now? Leicester NUT, along with other unions involved in the action on November 30th, have planned a march and rally from High Street (11.00am) to Athena (12pm until 2pm) on Wednesday 30th November. Try to get along promptly for 11.00am to march at 11.30am. We have arranged for speakers, including NUT Deputy General Secretary Kevin Courtney, and live music. Prepare yourself for a great, uplifting afternoon. We are hoping that the vast majority of schools will be closed, with NUT, ATL, NASUWT and the heads union NAHT all taking action along with the support staff unions, UNISON, GMB and UNITE. ...http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=780http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=780Mon, 14 Nov 2011 21:46:50 GMTLast week teaching unions met with representatives of the Catholic Diocese and the Corpus Christi cluster of Catholic schools to consider their proposal to convert from Voluntary Aided schools to Academies. The city schools involved are Sacred Heart, St Joseph's and St Thomas More, plus two schools in the county. Each Primary school would become an Academy within a wider Academy Trust. The NUT had previously leafleted parents at the schools, parishioners at two of the churches and attended the parents. ...http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=779http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=779Mon, 14 Nov 2011 21:43:33 GMTNo Deregulation in Leicester Although the government is consistently reducing the guidelines and regulations for schools' health and safety, Leicester LEA has so far declined to do likewise. Each authority has a duty to produce its own H&S policy to satisfy legislation and the decision has been made that all existing guidance and directives will remain in place. This is to be welcomed as, far from deregulation making life easier for teachers, it increases uncertainty as to exactly what procedures should be followed and what constitutes acceptable risk. ...http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=778http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=778Mon, 14 Nov 2011 21:42:12 GMTThe Government's proposals In discussions with TUC unions including the NUT, the Government has been putting forward a package of proposals for public sector pensions. These would involve teachers: * paying 50% more - an average 9.6% instead of 6.4%; * having to work later - with normal pension age linked to State pension age, a teacher aged 34 or under would have to work to age 68 for a full pension; * receiving a 'career average' pension based on an annual accrual rate of 1/65 of pay; * facing lower pension increases in retirement - with the move to the CPI inflation index, cutting 15% from the lifetime value of their pension. ...http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=777http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=777Mon, 14 Nov 2011 21:36:44 GMT...you need a union that will fight to protest your pension, your pay and your job, and reduce your workload FOR A STRONG UNION, INDEPENDENT OF GOVERNMENT STANDING UP FOR TEACHERS Leicester NUT says vote Max Hyde1Philipa Harvey2 Max Hyde (Warwickshire) NUT Executive Member since 1996 "The NUT is right to take a strong lead in defending our pensions, opposing academies and free schools, whilst protecting our members in these schools. ...http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=776http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=776Sun, 23 Oct 2011 11:47:45 GMTEuropean Health and Safety Week is from the 24th-28th October this year. (Normally it falls in our half-term.) This year the focus is on "Safe Maintenance". Without proper maintenance, things can go dramatically wrong in any workplace. Schools are no exception. In the current financial climate. However, with the DfE having accepted a 60% cut to its capital budget, maintenance of safe schools may be one of the first casualties of the spending cuts, leading to increased numbers of accidents. ...http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=775http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=775Sat, 15 Oct 2011 12:33:05 GMTEverybody's Reading festival shows Leicester the importance of active trade unionism. This year's ER festival had a focus on local stories. 'One Leicester - a thousand stories' led to story cafes dotted around the city where people could work with a writer to tell their own story. It also had local authors writing in the windows of Waterstone's to produce a finished work over lunch. The festival's tighter community engagement extended to trade union participation. ...http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=774http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=774Fri, 14 Oct 2011 23:09:23 GMTIn a change from the originally published schedule of meetings, NUT General Secretary Christine Blower will be coming to Leicester on 22nd November. We intend to have our Association Meeting at the earlier time of 4.30pm. Venue to be decided. Christine will then address a Public Meeting at The Edult Education Centre on Wellington Street from 7pm on the same evening. ...http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=773http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=773Fri, 14 Oct 2011 10:13:30 GMTOn 30th November between two and three million public sector workers will be on strike to defend their pensions. In every school meeting we need to hammer home the message to our colleagues that we shouldn't be paying for the bankers' crisis! As well as thousands of workers in both the public and private sector losing their jobs, millions have seen their income hammered by pay freezes. Hold a joint union meeting in your school and encourage staff in NAHT, NASUWT, UNISON, GMB and UNITE to vote for strike action so they can join us on November 30th. ...http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=772http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=772Fri, 14 Oct 2011 09:55:10 GMTContact details where available dates of surgeries are included and are generally held on Fridays: Liz Kendall (Leicester West, Labour) lizkendall@parliament.uk 0116 2044980 Keith Vaz (Leicester East, Labour) www.keith.vaz.labour.co.uk 0116 2122028 Jon Ashworth (Leicester South, Labour) jon@jonashworth.org www.jonasworth.org 0116 2511927 Stephen Dorrell (Charnwood, Conservative) ...http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=771http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=771Fri, 14 Oct 2011 09:52:15 GMTSeveral NUT members from Leicester attended 'Birmingham for the Alternative', a march in Birmingham to coincide with the Liberal Democrat Conference and 'Manchester for the Alternative' coinciding with the Conservative Party conference. To win the battle to defend our pensions our campaign will require an escalation of the industrial action begun at the end of the summer term. November 30th has now been set as the date for the next public sector strike to highlight what is happening to the pensions of teachers and other public sector workers. ...http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=770http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=770Wed, 12 Oct 2011 12:05:26 GMTParents Angry at Academy Moves That's not my headline, that's the headline from The Leicester Mercury on 17th September (http://bit.ly/qwaJ2C). The proposal by Michael Gove to force any Primary School not reaching the latest target that he has set has angered headteachers, teachers and parents at the seven schools that this may affect in Leicester. The Local Authority is offering support to those schools to build on the progress that is already taking place and we don't need political interference from a Government ideologically driven in its attempt to undermine the collaborative approach that we have in Leicester. ...http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=769http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=769Wed, 12 Oct 2011 10:26:18 GMTTemporary contracts should not be used as 'probationary' periods for teachers. The NUT will challenge the use of a temporary contract, if there is not a genuine reason for the post to be offered as temporary in the first instance. There are potential breaches of employment regulations if temporary contracts are used inappropriately and cost implications for the school if the case goes to an employment tribunal. If you are on a temporary contract, you have the following employment rights: * If you have been employed for one year - the right to claim unfair dismissal. ...http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=768http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=768Mon, 05 Sep 2011 09:28:37 GMTEverybody's Reading (ER 2011) is a nine day celebration of books, reading, writing and live performance that aims to get everybody in Leicester reading! The festival will take place across the city, from 1st - 9th October, 2011, opening at the brand new Leicester Central Library and New Walk Museum. It then spreads its words across the city, visiting everywhere from the Adult Education College and the Donkey Pub to Phoenix Square and The Crumbling Cookie Coffee Shop. Selected Events Monday 3rd October: ...http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=767http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=767Sun, 04 Sep 2011 11:14:55 GMTResearch has recently been carried out by York, Loughborough and De Montfort Universities with the objective of allowing the uninterrupted education of children who suffer from Thalassaemia and Sickle Cell Disorder. The full guidance is available from www.sicklecelleducation.com and www.sicklecellanaemia.org. What is Sickle Cell Disorder (SCD)? Sickle cell disorder (SCD) is a collective name for a series of serious inherited chronic conditions that can affect all systems of the body. ...http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=766http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=766Sun, 04 Sep 2011 10:40:27 GMTThe conditions of service under which you are employed, as a teacher, are laid down by law and, in some cases, amplified by local agreement. School teachers‟ conditions of service can be found in the School Teachers Pay and Conditions Document You can check on statutory rights over matters such as maternity and ...http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=765http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=765Sun, 04 Sep 2011 10:01:14 GMTAristotle argued that we're political animals at heart and that active involvement in society fulfils a basic human need. It's an idea that's been rediscovered recently by psychologists interested in well-being and human flourishing. Now the positive psychologists Malte Klar and Tim Kasser have provided some tentative evidence that activists are happier than non-activists. Moreover, they've shown that a brief activist task boosted participants' vitality levels compared to a group of controls. ...http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=764http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=764Sun, 04 Sep 2011 09:05:46 GMTWelcome back after a well deserved summer break. Following the huge success of our pensions rally last June, where does the NUT go now with its campaign to protect teachers and pensions? Recent statements by Government ministers show that there is no movement on their part: * Oliver Letwin, in charge of the Government's privatisation plans, disgracefully suggested that teachers and other public sector workers needed to be motivated by "fear" of losing their jobs. * Danny Alexander, in charge of the pensions 'negotiations' with unions, released a statement at the end of term making clear that "the Government remains committed to securing the full Spending Review savings of £2. ...http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=763http://www.leicesternut.org.uk/news.php?news_id=763Sun, 04 Sep 2011 08:32:04 GMT