London teachers strike back against compulsory transfers

Scan page 15

MarTinos n _SOUTH LONDAN ON Wednesday June 22 at least 1,000 Inner London teachers are taking strike action against compulsory transfer. By Friday 17th at least 30 schools had definitely decided to strike, and others hav have decided to send delegations to the march to County Hall.

More schools are expected to take decisions on Monday.

This is the second one-day strike this summer against the ILEA's policy on transferring teachers from one , school to another. Some schools are being told to lose 15-20 teachers because they are "overstaffed" This strike is even bigger than last summer's strike on the same issue, and reflects the anger of London teachers.

Compulsory transfer has long been a focal issue in the NUT Inner London Division (ILTA). The left achieved mANIN Demonstration and lobby of the District Health Authority: Tuesday June 30, 4.15, Industrial Therapy Unit, Springfield Hos-. mitol Duent. wood Lane, SW3 (Tooting Bec tube)

TINA historic clean sweep at this year's election for ILTA officers on a clear platform against compulsory transfer, and the intimately related issue of job loss.

Robert Richardson, ILTA general secretary for 17 years (a headmaster of course!) was finally unseated. Under his leadership the NUT agreed to the ILEA's policy of transfer: in 1976 there were 24,000 teachers in ILEA schools -today there are about 21,000.

Furthermore, he was prepared to give ground on lunch hours and a code of conduct which would include after-school duties during the London Contract negotiations (now abandoned, since the ILEA officers realised that the union's new London leadership would not compromise on the 1968 school meals agreement).

Richardson remains on the NUT National Executive and chairs the Action Committee. Since the introduction of Rule 8 local branches have lost their autonomy to take industrial action. In the past two years Lambeth and Southwark branch officers have been suspended from union membership for organising strike action without the approval of the Action Committee.

When over 500 teachers struck last summer against transfer, without Action Committee approval, the ILEA drew back from some transfers - but two Southwark branch officers, Amanda Leon and Gil Lowenstein were expelled from the NUT!

This summer's strike has again failed to win the approval of the Action Committee (sic). The National Executive are determined to marginalise the left officers of ILTA by not supporting their campaign to save jobs in Inner London. Had the action been "official" , then the action would have been totally solid.

Despite what happened last year, NUT members in London have shown their determination to fight on.

Although Frances Morrell has replaced Bryn Davies as Leader of ILEA, there has been no change of policy on transfer. Although the ILEA has launched its Equal Opportunities and other programmes in defiance of the Tory government's threats to dismantle it, the NUT had to remind Ms Morrell that it is precisely women and black teachers who are the first to be transferred from pillar to post, as they are predominantly stuck on the lowest scales and on the least secure contracts.

The ILEA's reasons for transfer seem rational: they want to ensure that all schools have their fair share of all resources, which includes staffing. The new ILTA General Secretary Richard Reisser has dubbed this as 'East European-style planning."

Teachers are not like photocopiers, to be shunted around. The quality of education for school students depends not just on statt numbers, but on their stability and morale.

Fifteen years ago, London schools were in turmoil because of massive staff turnover. Falling rolls and the contraction of the service have greatly reduced teachers' movement from job to job. Paradoxically this has improved educational standards and reduced class sizes. Now the ILEA, like all educational authorities, are shedding staff, and once again upsetting the kids' education.

The union have lobbied the ILEA with a clear message: we will fight alongside you against the Tories, but stop attacking us!

The fight in London will be a key test for the Socialist Teachers Alliance, the major left grouping in the NUT since the demise of the SWP-led Rank and File Teacher group. The STA will be fighting for national • union backing for all-out strikes in schools affected by transfer as well as further all-London one day strikes.

It will also continue to lobby the ILEA Labour Group. All Labour Party members in London can support this action by putting pressure on their ILEA member to change their policy: Fight the Tories, not the teachers! the Home Office from removing them. Since ethen, however, the Home Office have neither deported her nor regularised her stay. She is liying in a vacuum.

Manjit Kaur is in almost identical circumstances. Support for the two women and their children is being organised by the Khan and Kaur Families Defence Campaign, c/o 593 Stockport Road, Longsight, Manchester 12.

VIJI KUMAR, a Malaysian teacher, is the latest victim of Britain's racist immigration laws.

Viji, who teaches at Stoke on Trent sixth form college, faces deportation on June 30 when his work permit runs out. Yet Viji. an engineering graduate, has worked and lived in Britain for seven years.

He has done nothing wrong. He has his home, his friends, his work and his girlfriend here.

For 18 months until February 1981, he worked at the Serck engineering firm in Birmingham. and he was a member of TASS His work permit covered him until October 1981.

But in September 1981, after a few months on the dole, he took up a postgraduate certificate of education course at Keele University. He was granted a student visa for the period of this course. until October 1982.

Viji then got his teaching job. but when he turned up for the first day the head told him he could not teach because the Department of Employment had written saying they would no: grant a work permit. The same day, Staffordshire County Couzcil education department contai* ted the DE, who then reversed their decision and granted a wori permit until June 30 1983.

Readers can help by wnts: protest. letters to Immigration. The Home Office, Lunar House. Croydon. Contact: Viji Kuma Defence Campaign. 10 Butle Court. Bromley St. Cobraige. Stoke on Trent.

----- pull-quotes -----

LOND OSP

SOUTH choose momen