THE FIGHT against abolish the negotiating rights of 400,000 teachers received an important boost with the decision of the tional Union of Teachers (NUT) and the National Association March. members and both general secretaries signed the paper calling on all their members to give the proposal full backing.
The two unions repre sent around 80 per cent of all teachers and this will be the first joint action they have taken for over a year.
It will be a real morale fight against the moves to impose worsened conditions of employment which will include Cutthening the working year by 5 days and increasing the working week.
The ½ day strikes will not stop the Bill becoming law but they will make Baker think about what pay and conditions he wil Impose or teachers. More importantly it will help prepare a massive campaign of resistance to the conditions that he will try to impose ultimate repeal of the legislation.
The union leaders have been forced following growing calls from the membership for action. Up and down the Name Address Action for £ Registered as a newspaper with the Post Unrice Cardinal Enterprises, PO Box 50, London NI.
Kenneth Baker's Bill to on of Schoolmasters/Union of Women There will be one ballot paper for all have cocountry NUT branches in particular have been passing resolutions supporting the demand for strike action launched by the Inner London Teachers' Association.
This campaign was greatly strengthened bythe decision of the NUT's National Disciplinary ComHILLe I February reinstate the ILTA.
Council members who had been suspended from the for supportin action on January call which the employers now concede in fact had the backing of 8000 of the 13,500 ILTA members demonstrated that given a clear lead teachers Government's attack.
Although the ILTA ofInland 24 issues £10 48 issues £20 I enclose cheque/PO payable to Socialist Send to: Socialist Action Subs. PO Box 50, London N/ 2XP ficers were reprimanded all were found technically guilty of breach of the union rules, they are now back in the ready continue the fight against Baker.
Messages support for ILTA have come of Labour MIPs, Durham of the National OI Mineworkers, Durham Mechanics, Nottingham Pit Closures and a host of bodies noveltell activists including Peter Heathfield, NUN general secretary.
It Is the basis of precisely that kind of su-p port that teachers will be working to win mass backing for their fight. Rather than wait for the next general election and the possible rel of teachers have to take en abour vernment the fight now.
An important role in the fight has been that o1 the Socialist Teachers' whose members led the ILTA strike action. On Saturday an open discussion conerence will be called by the STA which will focus on the campaign ahead and on the need to build a united can Ning left within the which aims _to the fight against the forward.
RATES Overseas (48 issues only)
Europe £24 Airmall £34 (Double these rates for multi-reader institutions) Neu NOT BT
----- pull-quotes -----
two TUC-affiliated unions to ballot members strike action for the beginning of March. The Na-
Teachers (NAS/UWT) have begun a ballot for ½ day strikes in the weeks beginning 9 March and 16
BANER SUBSCRIBE