{"id":26567,"date":"2021-02-25T18:58:32","date_gmt":"2021-02-25T10:58:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chinaworker.info\/?p=26567"},"modified":"2021-02-25T19:06:36","modified_gmt":"2021-02-25T11:06:36","slug":"uk-education-workers-show-trade-union-action-gets-results-we-need-real-opposition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chinaworker.info\/en\/2021\/02\/25\/26567\/","title":{"rendered":"UK: Education workers show trade union action gets results. We need real opposition."},"content":{"rendered":"

Boris Johnson\u2019s announcement that schools will close until February half term is yet another U-turn from this shambolic Tory government \u2014 one which has been forced by the huge pressure from below by education workers.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Socialist Alternative members (ISA in England, Wales & Scotland) in the National Education Union, Unite and UNISON<\/p>\n

The Tories\u2019 plan to reopen schools was met with fierce opposition from scientists, politicians from all parties, and most importantly from the trade unions. After almost a year of criminal mismanagement of the pandemic by Johnson, along with a worrying new strain of coronavirus which is seemingly spreading very quickly, many people have completely lost trust in this incompetent government. A joint statement from six unions representing education workers called for an immediate move to remote learning and schools to be closed except for vulnerable and key worker children.<\/p>\n

Drastic action was necessary as the COVID-19 pandemic is clearly reaching a very serious situation. Schools are undeniably playing a key role in the spread of the virus; the ONS reported on December 24th that \u201cSecondary school-age children continue to have the highest percentage testing positive.\u201d Even the Government\u2019s SAGE advisors concluded that the \u201cevidence is consistent with increased transmission occurring amongst school children when schools are open, particularly in children of secondary school age, multiple data sources show a reduction in transmission in children following schools closing for half term, and transmission rates increasing again following the post-half term return to school.\u201d<\/p>\n

When the Tories insisted on schools opening in any case, without the necessary safety precautions being put in place, education workers voiced their anger, and pushed their unions to take decisive action for safety at school and to fight the spread of the virus. An unprecedented 400,000 people attended, watched and engaged with the National Education Union\u2019s online meeting earlier this week.<\/p>\n

The NEU, along with UNISON, issued guidance to all members in schools that they should not go into the workplace for at least the first two weeks of term (apart from providing care and education to vulnerable children and the children of key workers), and provided a model letter for members to send to their Heads explaining this. This is legally protected under section 44 of the employment rights act, which enshrines the right to refuse to work in unsafe conditions. This was clearly engaged with by many union members as shown by the huge meeting and the number of schools where these letters were sent. It was this show of strength which forced the hand of the government, and many local authorities and head teachers, to accept that schools should remain closed.<\/p>\n

This was despite the disgraceful stance of the NASUWT and GMB union leaderships, who produced guidance that was tantamount to scabbing by saying that using Section 44 to refuse to attend an unsafe workplace is a \u201cbreach of contract\u201d. Many members of these unions ignored their leadership, with some leaving in protest and joining the NEU or UNISON.<\/p>\n

Since January 1st over 16,000 education workers have joined the NEU, attending massive meetings throughout the UK and sharing experiences about the actions they have taken at their school. Public meetings with parents, healthcare workers, education workers and left-wing Labour MPs were also organised and attended by thousands of people. When trade union leaderships offer a path of action, members engage and take action themselves \u2014 and show that this government can be defeated!<\/p>\n

Workers\u2019 and parents control needed for safety<\/b><\/p>\n

However, it is not enough to just close schools. Firstly, many working class families will be panicking about how they will deal with potentially weeks of having their children at home. Any parent who isn\u2019t able to work because they need to provide childcare should receive 100% of their wages. More than this, there needs to be resources made available for families who are struggling with the extra costs of children learning from home \u2014 free school meals vouchers, laptops, the cost of internet, paper and ink, the extra costs in energy bills and so on.<\/p>\n

This worry is not just because of school closures, though. The cost of childcare is astronomical, and many families cannot afford it. There should be the immediate introduction of free, universal childcare to solve this problem. Local authorities should act immediately to introduce this.<\/p>\n

Johnson has said that exams \u201cwon\u2019t go forward as normal\u201d but all exams must be cancelled immediately. It is not feasible that students, or teachers, will be ready for exams, particularly those due to take place in January! There shouldn\u2019t be a choice between being safe and getting qualifications. But this also raises a question around the type of education system that we have: schools should not be exam factories!<\/p>\n

During the time that schools are closed, the necessary safety measures should be put in place \u2014 otherwise when schools reopen none of the problems would have been solved. Proper social distancing needs to be possible, including if necessary \u2018overflow\u2019 schools to keep class sizes small. The use of bubbles needs to be kept, even if lateral flow tests are rolled out. PPE needs to be provided and clinically vulnerable members of staff need to be able to work from home. When schools do reopen, there could be a phased return. These types of \u2018red lines\u2019 should be developed democratically by workers, unions and parents in order to ensure that schools are reopened safely. We have no trust in the Tory government \u2014 it should be workers and parents who decide when it is safe!<\/p>\n

Support staff in schools also need to be included in these discussions, plans and decisions. The safety of all workers is paramount \u2014 even those who cannot \u2018work from home\u2019. Also, all education workers should be part of the initial roll-out of the vaccine, along with other front-line workers.<\/p>\n

Following these closures, there will still be a fight on our hands. We need a strategy to fight this Tory government, and that has to include a ballot for industrial action over dangerous working conditions. It should also include an independent trade union inquiry into the role of schools in the spread of coronavirus, and the government\u2019s mishandling of the pandemic in general, to expose how their mistakes have led to the suffering of millions.<\/p>\n

The revolt by education workers will serve as a beacon of hope to workers in other sectors who are facing uncertainty or unsafe working conditions. The fight has not been won yet, but this U-turn by the government after the trade union movement lifted its little finger should serve as a lesson to the movement as a whole: if you fight, you can win!<\/p>\n

It was the rank and file of the National Education Union, followed by UNISON, who in their hundreds of thousands made their voices heard and forced the leadership to take a stand. This is also an important lesson for members of other unions \u2014 it is you who have the power. There is generally a feeling of demoralisation felt by many, starting the year going into another lockdown and with a new strain of coronavirus, but this provides a good example of the sort of fightback that is necessary.<\/p>\n

Socialist Alternative members working in education have written the following programme for safety in schools:<\/b><\/p>\n