How much can you afford to lose?
Your Union....Your website....Your Views
“ I have been really pleased with the response in our school - traditionally not at all militant but this time (after meetings) I think we have all NUT members out on the day (10 of us) and this looks like it may close the school. It seems in our case that the issue has drawn us together (more than sats did) and both younger and older members ( I am well into the latter camp) see clearly the reasons - your info really helped.
I can remember when I started back in the 70's that my then NUT rep who was then my age now said that he was not striking (over lunchtime cover and duties in those days) just for himself but for those who came after him - like me- this is the same issue - the Gov tried to divide and rule with their adjustments but I feel that has backfired.”
Colin Roy - NUT rep Thorpe Hillside C.P. School, Thorpe Norwich
| Welcome to the website of the Norfolk Division of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) |
| The NUT is the largest teachers’ union both locally and nationally. Norfolk NUT has over 4,500 members and our is made of 5 local Associations:
Please enjoy our website and feel free to feedback, contacts can be found in the CONTACTS tab above.
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***LATEST NEWS***
Upcoming meeting dates
Please check the LOCAL ASSOCIATIONS about upcoming meetings.
Protest - Stop Cuts to Day Centres
Assemble 9AM Monday 13th February
Outside main foyer County Hall
Organised by UNISON
February Pension Newsletter downloaded here
Dereham Against Cuts meeting Wednesday 25 January
This a reminder about the follow-up meeting this Wednesday 25 January at 7:00pm in the Wellspring Centre, 35 Neatherd Road, Dereham (near The Maltings). There is some parking available for Wellspring Centre users on-site, and other parking on residential streets nearby.
This meeting is designed to bring people together to discuss the anti-cuts struggle and agree on ways to further it in the Dereham area, and in particular through actions within union-branches. The meeting will end by 8.00pm.
The suggested agenda for the meeting is as follows:
Introductions: who we are, where we are from the anti-cuts struggle: what's changed since November 30th
Feedback from workplaces etc.
What we can/will do in unions, in communities
Proposal to affiliate to Norfolk Coalition Against the Cuts
Set a date for our next meeting
Any other business
Zandra Waterford has agreed to chair the meeting. Minutes detailing agreed actions will be taken and circulated.
Information about the meeting has been posted on the Norfolk Coalition Against the Cuts website, and delivered to a variety of workplaces in and around Dereham.
I hope you will be able to come along and help us build on November's march and rally. Please contact Patrick Yarker
01362 860826
Young Teachers Xmas Social
Over 20 Young Teachers joined more experienced NUT members at a fantastic night in Norwich. UEA students and NQTs shared stories and advice, whilst more experienced teachers and a Deputy-Head shared their wisdom on how to compete for those precious jobs.
The overwhelming feeling was that another Young Teachers social was needed some time in March, where Students and NQTs could chat informally about the teaching role and how to get that desired full time post. More details will appear on the website in the new year.
Finally, from all the officials at Norfolk NUT, may we wish you a Happy Christmas and a well rested New Year!
Please enjoy some of the photos by clicking on MEETINGS & EVENTS above
Norfolk NUT in Action!
Please enjoy some of the photos from a terrific day of Action across Norfolk by clicking on MEETINGS & EVENTS above
Around seven minutes of good sense from rank-and-file trade unionists on the march and at the rally in Norwich last Wednesday can be found:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmkEDB_Y06w
NUT Social Thursday 1st December
Keep the spirit alive by joining your colleagues tomorrow for a well deserved social. It will be at Vodka Revolution in Norwich, 6 Queen Street, NR2 4TL (near Tombland) Drop in from 6pm until 9pm for freebies, free food and drinks on Thursday 1st December.
Picketing
Careful consideration of all the circumstances, therefore, needs to be undertaken in each case in which picketing may be suggested. The members affected should be fully consulted by the division before the proposal is taken further. Please get in contact with Mike Smith norfolknut@btinternet.com
Kendra Cogman kendra.norfolknut@gmail.com
To find out more on picketing click on the INFO tab above
Strike breaking - Using cover in school
Reps across the County have been informing us that their HT intends to use supply/coaches/instructors/ as cover for striking members.
Under Regulation 7 of the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003, it is unlawful for an employment business to supply or introduce a worker to cover the duties of someone who is on strike, or even to cover the duties of another worker who has been moved to fill a gap when someone else is on strike.
Head teachers should be aware that the NUT will press for action to be taken against those agencies, which could include criminal proceedings and their licence to operate being suspended, if they breach the regulations.
With all the news of strikes and action is was a welcome relief to be informed that the Norfolk NUT website was now the 3rd most popular local NUT site in the country. Thank you for using the website and please feel free to contribute. It is YOUR website!
This takes us onto the issue of YOUR UNION. Through discussions with Reps and members there seems to be a recurring theme of NUT members talking of the Union as 'the Union' and 'the Union calling for Action.' The Union is made up of its members. It is YOUR UNION. Officials, Secretaries and Reps work to represent the members. YOU!
We are interested in listening to your views on...
'What is the Union to you?'
Please email your opinions to slyonsnut@gmail.com
November 30th Action
Update 18 Nov
Why??
1. Unions negotiated and agreed the changes to pensions that were introduced in 2007:
The last Government also wanted to make big cuts to public sector pensions - the threat of strike action forced them to retreat. This Government will have to do the same.
2. The 2007 changes were properly costed - but this Government refuses to do a valuation:
Why are they scared of the facts? Probably because if a valuation was done, it would show that Ministers are wrong to claim our pensions are ‘unaffordable’. Instead, it would confirm that the cost of pensions is set to fall - just as the Government’s own National Audit Office suggests:
“The 2007-08 changes are likely to reduce costs to taxpayers of the pension schemes by £67 billion over 50 years” (NAO)
3. Teachers have paid £46bn more money into the Pension Scheme than has been paid out:
Far from being a burden to the taxpayer, NUT researchers suggest that the Teachers Pension Scheme has actually helped to fund Government expenditure! Adjusting for today’s prices, they estimate that a staggering £46 billion more was paid into the scheme than has been paid out!
4. Cameron’s claims in Parliament exaggerate their pensions ‘offer’ and mislead the public:
Ministers gave an example in Parliament that suggested that a teacher would be better off under their proposals! But they were comparing what a teacher would get at 68 under their scheme with what they would get at 60 now!
Of course, if a teacher struggled on to 68 they would have paid through the nose for any bigger pension with eight more years of increased contributions. But, if they chose to go at 60, the Government would make an ‘actuarial reduction’ that robbed them of their pension entitlements. Instead of getting £1000s more, they’d get £1000s less.
“That teacher retiring at age 60 under the new arrangements would receive a pension of £13,800 - a loss of £5,300 per year compared with £19,100 under the current scheme” (NUT)
5. They want our pension ages to be OVER 68:
Most teachers will face an impossible choice - retire ‘early’ and give up £1000s of their hard-earned pension or try to work on in an exhausting school environment ‘til 67 or 68. They might have to work on even longer. The Government wants to raise state pension ages even further than that!
6. The change from RPI to to CPI is just a crude cut - it isn’t supported by statisticians:
The Government wants to switch to CPI for just one simple reason - it costs less. They can save money at the expense of all those needing to live on pensions and benefits.
“We do not feel CPI serves the purpose of being a sufficiently good measure of price inflation as experienced by households” (Royal Statistical Society)
7. There’s a real pensions scandal in the UK - but cutting teachers’ pensions won’t solve it:
Only one in three private sector workers is now a member of an employer-sponsored pension scheme; in Europe, only Cyprus, Latvia and Estonia have higher levels of pensioner poverty. But the Government aren’t cutting public sector pensions to pay for increased state pensions! No, they want a ‘race to the bottom’ for all of us.
8. While we have to pay more, they want employers to pay less into the pension funds:While teachers’ contributions are increased, the new ‘offer’ is based on cutting the level of employers’ contributions.
9. They’re cutting our pensions to help big businesses privatise our services:
“Labour has accused the government of using its public sector pension reforms to "soften up" the cost base of schools, hospitals and other public services and pave the way for a programme of mass privatisation” (The Guardian 5.7.11).
10. There is enough money in society to have fair pensions for all - that’s what we fight for:
A quarter of all tax relief on pensions, over £10bn a year, goes to the richest 1% in the country. These are the same individuals who have seen their bonuses and incomes rocket while the rest of us are told to accept cuts.
Teachers and other public-sector workers don’t need lectures from this government of millionaires about ‘pensions justice’. We will strike to defend our pensions - and strengthen the campaign for fair pensions for all.
QUESTIONS and ANSWERS about the N30 STRIKE from Lewisham NUT
All of these links open documents in Microsoft Word:
1 Why are we taking action again on November 30
2 What do we tell the Head about November 30 ?
3 Who is being called on to take strike action ?
4 Can non-members join the strike ?
5 Can I strike if I didn't vote in the ballot ?
6 Do NUT members HAVE to strike ?
7 What about supply teachers ?
8 Can I get in trouble for taking strike action ?
9 Maternity Pay and Strike Action?
10 Should schools close to pupils on November 30 ?
12 What if my school has a trip planned for November 30 ?
For a more concise Q&A please click here
For a very insightful pensions pamphlet click here
Action & Events on the day
The details below are the finalised list of events throughout Norfolk. 30th November is joint action and the NUT has worked anlongside other Unions and the Norfolk Coalition Against the Cuts (NCAC) to organise events.
NCAC poster with details for the day can be downloaded here
A public meeting poster can be downloaded here
Kings Lynn
Start outside the Tax Office, County Court Road at 12 noon. Rally at the top of the Purfleet Shopping area at 13.00pm.
Stalls promoting day will be held in the town centre on the 13th/19th/26th November. Members invited to join.
Great Yarmouth
There will be a rally in Great Yarmouth, assembling at 4, Church Plain (near the parish church) and moving off at 11am into the Market Place. This has been organised by Great Yarmouth & District Trades Union Council and all union members are welcome.
Thetford
Proposed picket of a school(s) then move on to rally at Kings Lynn or Norwich. Please contact Mike Smith norfolknut@btinternet.com for further details
Dereham
Meet outside Neatherd High School 12 noon. March to Town Centre
Norwich
Assemble City College at 11.00 am to March through City Centre (St Stephens Street approx 11.30 am) to arrive City Hall Steps 12.30 for rally with speeches.
Stalls promoting day will be held in the town centre on the 19th/26th November. Members invited to join.
Park and ride details from Harford (City College drop off) can be downloaded here
You can download a pension newsletter by clicking on the blue link.
Deaf Awareness & Sign Language workshop
A new initiative to encourage teaching staff to take up deaf awareness & sign language is now available in Norfolk
Signs4Life is offering an introductory workshop in deaf awareness and sign language to help staff to communicate with their deaf and hard of hearing colleagues, service users and clients in Norfolk on Friday 9th December at Norfolk County Hall, Edwards Room, Martineau Lane, Norfolk (NR1 2DH) from 9:30am-12:30pm. This local initiative is to help identify barriers that deaf people face and explore their culture and community but also to encourage inclusion of all people with sensory, physical or learning disabilities in Norfolk. Attendance is strictly by booking only (limited places).
Wednesday 30th November join the action for fair pensions for all!
Norfolk NUT will be joining fellow teacher Unions ATL, NAHT, UCU, UCAC and ACSL in a day of action on the 30th November. Information will be appearing on the website as soon as soon we have it. Furthermore, School REPs will be receiving resources and posters to keep members informed.
For more information, please contact Fozia on
If you would like to find out more, or have members wishing to, please share this PowerPoint
If you have any questions please email slyonsnut@gmail.com
BLACK HISTORY MONTH MULTICULTURALISM
AND CHALLENGING RACISM
A presentation on the above has been organised by the NUT in Norfolk. The details are:
VENUE: The Hewett School, Cecil Road, Norwich, NR1 2PL
DATE: Thursday 3 November
TIME: 7pm
Rocky Deans, from London, will give a very informative and interesting lecture on the evening. Refreshments available. Open to all teachers and support staff in the County. Warm welcome assured.
For further details contact: Steve Smith on 01362 698637
Kevin Courtney Comes to Norfolk
Norfolk NUT members were delighted to receive a welcome visitor this week in the shape of Kevin Courtney, recently appointed Deputy General Secretary of the Union. Born and educated in Wales, Kevin’s teaching experience was entirely in London (Camden) so he was interested in what it would be like to experience a selection of the smaller, more rural schools in Norfolk. Find out more by clicking on the MEETINGS & EVENTS tab above.
NQT and New Member Events
Dereham & Fakenham - Tuesday 8 November, Romany Rye Wetherspoons in Dereham for FREE food and drink at 5.30PM.
West Norfolk - Monday 3rd October – Downham Market High at 4.30PM and Smithdon High School Wednesday 5th October at 5.30PM. All NUT members welcome. Refreshments included. Please join us, especially NQTs!
South Norfolk & Breckland - NQTs and new members FREE drinks and bar food at The Feathers in Wymondham, Thursday 17th November, 7pm for 7:30pm.
Norwich & District - have organised their NQT and Reps Function Thursday 29th September 7PM for dinner and drinks at the Downstairs @ Table Table in the Hotel Nelson Prince of Wales Road.
Broadland - NQT social at The Star Hotel, Great Yarmouth on 7th October 2011, 7.30PM. All Broadland Association members are also welcome to attend this informal meeting.
Local Association NQT Social Events
Norfolk NUT will be welcoming NQTs and new members through a serious of events. Please click on the ASSOCIATIONS tab above to find out more.
In Norwich NQTs, NEW MEMBERS & REPs please join us for an evening of free dinner and drink and discussion with Kevin Courtney, Deputy General Secretary of the NUT.
Burston strike school rally
4 September 2011, 11:00 to 16:00
Norfolk NUT supported fellow Unions at the Burston Strike celebration. Division Secretary Mike Smith and Newsletter Editor Chrissie Smith proudly carried the flag. See more action by clicking on the RECENT EVENTS tab.
Norfolk Coalition Against the Cuts Conference
DOWNLOAD A FLYER HERE
Archive of the year
With 2010 and 2011 being such a busy year for the NUT and for Norfolk, we have decided to archive all the news from the year. You can find out more by hovering on the NEWS tab above and clicking on ARCHIVE.
Norfolk NUT would like to thank all the people who have supported the Website. The number of hits this year has been phenomenal, from 24,096 at the start of September to a huge 129,000 by the end of the Summer term. Please keep visiting!
After the strike?
Please visit the National website to see the very latest developments http://www.teachers.org.uk/node
There is a Joint NUT, ATL and UCU statement on taking forward the pensions campaign. Plus, members are being asked to email their MPs again to urge the Government to now negotiate seriously and properly. Information on your MP can be found in the CAMPAIGNS tab above.
Don't forget to sign a petition to the Prime Minister campaigning for Fair Pensions for All - for workers in the private and public sectors and pensioners too. Please add your name.
Please fill in the form here to sign the petition.
Local Association NQT Social Events
Members of Associations across Norfolk enjoyed some well deserved rest and recovery. Members of Dereham & Fakenham shared a curry and the experiences of a long and eventful year. It was great to see so many new, young members join Association veterans. See photos of the fun by clicking on the DEREHAM & FAKENHAM in the ASSOCIATIONS tab above.
Events for NQTS are being planned throughout the first Half-Term. Norwich & District have organised their NQT and Reps Function Thursday 29th Spetember 7PM for dinner and drinks at the Downstairs @ Table Table in the Hotel Nelson Prince of Wales Road.
Please click on the ASSOCIATIONS tab above to find out more.
Join us!
0845 300 1669
020 73806369
Why join the NUT
Current offers
Benefits and services
How to join
NUT subscription rates
Join now and pay nothing until 2012*
Qualifying to teach in 2011? Get four terms full membership for just £1 - payable in 2012.
Encouraged to join by a colleague? Sign-up on direct debit by 30 November 2011 and you’ll both be entered into our ‘Recruit a friend’ prize draw sponsored by Teachers Assurance.
*First-time members and direct debit only
NORFOLK SUPPORT LINE
Before your problems overwhelm you,why not speak to someone in confidence?
0800 169 76 76
Confidential telephone support and counselling for the staff of Norfolk County Council
Teacher Support Network
24 hour a day, 7 days a week, 365 day a year support for teachers.
08000 562 561