Professional unity

“Our profession is under unprecedented attacks,” stated former President Philipa Harvey –moving a priority motion on greater professional unity We must work closer with our allies and come together as one ”

Seconding the motion, Gawain Little of the Executive reiterated that a new unified Union would remain a part of the TUC and combine the two memberships Conference voted near unanimously to carry the motion supporting continued negotiations with ATL with a view to formulate a detailed proposal to create a new union

Commenting after the debate

Christine Blower said: “Professional unity has been a long-standing policy position of the NUT This aim is more important than ever We believe that it is helpful for the profession to speak with one voice, both at national level and at the increasingly devolved school level ” children their education. The establishment was pounding down on our heads. But we supported each other through that.”

Over Christmas 2021, despite rising Covid numbers and the emergence of the Delta variant, Boris Johnson was insisting schools were safe to open on 4 January. From the data collected by NEU statisticians, Kevin and Mary knew this decision could be disastrous.

On 3 January, they held a Zoom call, explaining to members and the public that they had an individual right to use Section 44 of the Employment Rights Act to refuse to go to work if their workplace was unsafe. More than 400,000 people attended that Zoom, making it the biggest political online meeting in UK history. But, they can both admit now, it wasn’t an easy call. “I was scared at that point because we were going up against the force of the state. It didn’t stop us, in fact it made us more determined. But that doesn’t come without some personal cost,” admits Mary.

By the end of that day, thousands of teachers had sent a Section 44 letter to their workplace and, on 4 January, Boris Johnson U-turned and admitted schools were unsafe, partially closing them again. The union gained 20,000 members within the month, and 100,000 new Facebook followers, giving it the biggest social media presence of any union in the UK.

“I honestly think the NEU saved so many lives over that time. Not just teachers, but parents and grandparents,” says Kevin.

‘Ethical and moral responsibility’

With so much responsibility and 40 years each of working as educators and activists, I ask Kevin and Mary if they ever get tired of fighting? Their answer is a definitive “no”.

“You get tired, but not tired of fighting,” says Mary. “During Covid we weren’t the ones having to go into schools, it was our members, so you have this huge ethical and moral responsibility to keep going and keep them safe.”

Kevin shares a story about how one day, during the pandemic, he went on his daily walk and a teacher approached him to thank him for everything he had done. “That sort of thing is a real boost,” he says, emotionally.

The NEU is now the third largest union in the Trades Union Congress, with over 500,000 members. “We are a really effective union. We are able to mobilise quickly. We have a strong activist base. We are able to lead the intellectual argument and we are able to organise quickly to be effective industrially. I am very proud of that,” says Mary passionately. And this year, the NEU overcame stringent Government strike thresholds in one of the biggest single ballots of any union for decades – as members overwhelmingly voted Yes to strike action over pay. continued on page 31 continued from page 29

Educators, who have faced a real-terms pay cut of 20 per cent over the last ten years, have so far taken six days of action this year, with a huge swell of public support and more than 50,000 educators marching through London on 15 March. With the Government refusing to listen, the union is now re-balloting to continue industrial action, meaning it is unlikely the dispute will be resolved by the time Kevin and Mary step down in September.

I ask them how they feel about leaving during the middle of the pay dispute.

Mary replies stoically: “You have to leave some time, don’t you?” She says she would love to have been able to finish what they collectively started. “But the worst thing you can believe as a leader is that the organisation can’t carry on without you. You occupy these positions for a period of time and then you leave, and the union carries on without a backward glance.”

Kevin admits: “It does feel good to be leaving on this high,” adding that he’s extremely proud that the NEU was able to exceed draconian legal thresholds to win the Yes vote.

The pair agree that the union is in “a really good place” and share a moment of pride in the part they have played in that.

Looking to the future

When I ask what’s next, Mary tells me she doesn’t want to be sitting at home on the first day she is no longer NEU joint general secretary, so she and her husband Martin are spending three months in France to learn French. “I wish I’d done that,” Kevin says, jumping in. “But I’m going to be at home thinking ‘what am I going to do now?’”

He is considering doing a geology degree, but also likes the idea of spending some time reflecting on all the experience he has gained in 40-plus years in education and trade unionism. “My first NUT conference was back in 1986 and I was possibly the youngest person there. It’s a bit of a surprise to me that I’m one of the oldest now. It’s snuck up on me. But then you realise you’ve built up all that experience, so I’m going to see if I can write some things down.”

Does he have any advice for Daniel Kebede? “Unions work best when they are united and progressive. Unions have to be ambitious but also grounded in members’ needs. Focusing on organising in the workplace is absolutely what leads to the ability to win a national dispute. Focus on that. And shaping the future of education.” n Support not surveillance: How to solve the teacher retention crisis by Dr Mary Bousted. John Catt Educational. £15.

Farewell, Kevin and Mary. And thank you.