Teachers took strike action at two schools in Camden, north London, today over plans to scrap recruitment and retention (R&R) payments to new teachers. The payments are designed to ease the financial burden teachers face when entering the profession on low starting salaries with student debts to pay off.
Canvassers were out in force last Sunday in Preston, where Respect supporter Barry Hill is standing in the Tulketh ward in the upcoming by-election. The by-election takes place on 14 February.
Over 200 Respect supporters from across London met last week to finalise the selection of a list of candidates for the London Assembly elections on 1 May and to launch Lindsey German’s campaign for mayor.
Lindsey German
Teachers in the NUT union at Pimlico School, central London, struck on Wednesday of last week. The strike was sparked after lunch breaks had been cut from 45 minutes to 30 minutes.
Multinational firms have got their eyes on your local doctor’s surgery.
Strike at Remploy Birkenhead and Aintree Remploy workers are set to strike this week in protest at government plans to close 28 of its 83 factories, which employ 5,000 disabled people in total.
Ballot papers are out now for the UCU lecturers’ union national executive committee elections. About half the executive seats are up for re-election. Activists need to fight hard over the next three weeks to make sure that the turnout is as high as possible and the vote for UCU Left candidates is maximised.
Members of the University and College Union (UCU) in Higher Education (HE) are being balloted about a new negotiating agreement with the employers.
Teachers in the National Union of Teachers (NUT) are preparing for a ballot for strike action over their below-inflation pay offer. The ballot is due to start on 28 February.
Campaigners in Shropshire, West Midlands, won a major victory last week when they stopped the planned closure of 22 primary schools.
More than 90 people attended a dayschool to celebrate the legacy of CLR James in central London last Saturday.
