LONDON TEACHERS, mainly NUT members, have been involved in walkouts, stoppages, pickets, and lobbies during the past three weeks due to the Labour led schools secondary education. This violates the agreement between ILEA and the Inner London Teachers Association signed two years ago which provides for voluntary transfer of teachers only. Such has been the ferocity of opposition to the parents and, school students have been mobilised - that the ILEA are carrying out disciplinary action against teachers whom they claim have incited school students — as if 16 year olds need teachers to tell them that their educational provision is being threatened!
The most co-ordinated action be called are strikes called for Thursday 2 April to lobby the ILEA 1 nis acuon may even supported by the NUT national leadership - which would boost the campaign.
ILbA clam Wal ine) wish to narrow budget deticit bv t20 millon transferring teachers. This reducing the numbers of teachers drastically in some schools — which ILEA attemnt to justify by falling numbers of pupils. he authoritv argues that it is necessary to move teachers from schools which are 'overstaffed' to schools with vacancies. — and identifying teachers for transfer in ILEA's proposals In which significantly, very large numbers of particularly badly over the past period and teachers that sector. Also there has population primary SCHOOS. while there has been a temporary decline in SHOOTONI secondary schools. This will obviously be reversed when the pre SOiL primary Dubulallull HUVED Un to secondary education.
An important development in this campaign has heen the determination oi those involved not just to take strike action but to take the political questions involved the London Teachers have been demanding that cs support une leacnels against the ILEA members, and Iney have called on Party members to This dispute is serious enough in itself. But it has to be seen in a wider context. At present it represents an assault and a challenge the Inner London Teachers' Association the most advanced section politically of the NUT. It is no coincidence that ILEA's plans were drawn up while SUBSCRIBE Inland 24 issues £10 48 Issues £20 Send to: Socialist Action Subs, PO Box 50, London N/ 2XP. ILTA'S officers suspended leadership. Nor is it a coinofficers of the union are appealing to the NUT against the ILTA executive not being punished severely by the NUT's disciplinary procedures for taking strike action against Kenneth Baker's removal of negotiating rights for teachers. Furthermore all time when the education secretary Kenneth Baker has abolished and is preparing to impose working conditions on all teachers. Leaders Both the leaders of the NUT, authorities such as the Il EA, are attempting to control their members workforce. Both have failed to embark on a strategy that can defeat Baker.
leadership has so far failed to build on the tremendous moblisations in opposition to Baker. Instead it has channelled protests few marginal constituencies held by Tory MPs.
ILEA, who need to detend budget requirements should have mobilised teacners, suppor staff, parents yes, students against the government. They would, without question have been able to campaign the whole labour movement.
Meanwhile Kenneth Baker sitting back laughllig Lilt NUT eadership paralyses ILTA or if the ILEA succeed in their attack on state secondary education in London, then the Tories will step in and take advantage of the situation to break up ILEA. They will be strengthened in that attack by full knowledge that support for led ILEA is be Tie cooll ing reduced by its actions.
RATES Overseas (Double these rates for multi-reader institutions)
----- pull-quotes -----
Inner London Education Authority (ILEA) adopting a policy of compulsory transfer of teachers between
(48 Issues only) Europe £24 Airmall £34