first major item of discussion at the annual conference of the National Union of Teachers meeting in Jersey this Easter.
Last year the quivocally unilateralist position but the right wing leadership of the national executive thwarted any action on it by a process of bureaucratic manouevres.
the union is non-political!' Despite the fact that Rule 3 of the NUT states pany conterence supreme authority of the day on the executive.
COOKSON Local union branches organised two conferences of rank and file delegates - one in Manchester and on in London — as a result Photo: GM of which another unilateralist motion has been voted to the top of the agenda. The two rank and file conferences also established 'Local Associations TOT reace Disarmament' which will сонис to callpalga 101 throughout the union at every level wnatever the OI Jersey. Joint Importantly this achievement is the result joint efforts the Socialist Teachers Alliance and some sections of the Broad Left's supporters.
The Communist however have continued their attack calling stead for muddle-headed multiateranst monons le placate the right wing's of membership loss due to the becoming too Conference passed an une'Unilateralism is political' they declared, 'and But the losses in NUT membership to the rightwing, non-TUC 'profes sional associations National Une Association masters/Union of Women Teachers is not the result of left policy decisions at They are the product of a systematic failure by right-wing leadership of the NUT to lead anv fight against the continugovernment against education system.
example of the right's failure is on the issue pay. Last November the executive themselves favour of stage CLO the level teachers pay in April 1975. has dropped ov around 34 per cent. Without consulting their rightcycl wing allies on the full exhowever the union's negotiating team dropped the two stage return to '75 levels for a 'staged' return over unspecified period But the right went further - it refused to put any figure on the claim aespite constant pressure executive members. Whilst opening moves on November 1982 is began in was live -until February 1983 that the figure of 15 per cent emerged. Pay The NUT has pledged subDUll for co-poclaliol 'opposition limit policies?. The leadership however has done noting develop any collective campaigning in their masses to September's Day of Action in support of the That day health workers saw thousands of teachers on the streets and pointed • an allelative surdieg ut the bureaucrats baulk ed at the prospect.
Left On Friday 25 March the ottered per cent and the talks adjourned until 15 April. At the emergency executive hiccullie immediately afterwards however, only 5 out of 42 members voted to discuss a campaign of action the The will challenge this at Jersey.
On a number of other issues the union has been pushed leftwards. Ine union has adopted policy offence for which can be thrown out of the The union has also CADICosCU support for positive action for women (while not yet adopting a pro-abortion position).
ity still has of a ses policy still created. Despite many objections this conference held in Jersey which means gays allenaing me conterence face the prospect of prounder the island's laws. buildings and resources. An attempt will be made to get the union to adopt a progressive policy on gay rights. Won Much of these changes are directly attributable to the left. Since its creation six years ago the Socialist Teachers has emerged as the largest campaigning left grouping that organises in an open ana democrauc way In lnt The STA recently won the elections for the officers positions in the 14,000 strong Inner London Teachers AssociaLIUL By Andy Border The has just published pamphle arguing for the NUT to af filiate to the Labour Party and will be making moves to get the union to support the return of a Labour government.
The other main 'left' tendency, the Communis dominated Broad Left acts only as a conference caucus and election machine. So far it has Talled break in any significant way with the Willg leadership of the union.
Rank Workers pare Socialist Workers 'front' folded completely. The 'Mad monk' education minister Keith Joseph blames teachers for poor standards as he cuts spending on books, STA, whilst disagreeing on