Report on the Campaign
I would like to thank you and your associations for
your support during our campaign to prevent the privatisation of our LEA. Every
message of support was read out to our members and to the public at the rally
and lobby on our strike day on July 19th.
The strike was extremely solid across the three
unions and had very wide coverage. We received support and congratulations from
all over the country as well as from National Headquarters. We were also
supported by parents and community groups in Waltham Forest. Labour and Tory
Councillors voted together in the final vote on the Council. The Councillors
themselves had no faith in what they were doing, merely stating that they were
reluctantly obeying orders from the Government.
Although, in the end, we did not succeed in preventing
Nord Anglia/EduAction from taking over the most part of our Local Authority, I
believe that the fight against privatisation is by no means over; on the
contrary, it is now really beginning to get under way.
Across the country ordinary people workers and
trade unionists are coming out against New Labour¹s policy of
privatisation of public services. In two General Meetings, we have confirmed
that Waltham Forest NUT would be prepared to ballot all members in all schools
for industrial action against privatisation - as part of a national
campaign.
During the campaign, we pointed to the fact that
privatisation of schools would be next on the agenda - the White Paper
published yesterday proves us right. We are looking for support from other
Associations, particularly those facing privatisation, for a coordinated
national campaign to protect public services from sell off.
Thank you again and greetings from Waltham Forest NUT
to all supporters.
Waltham Forest Association National Union of Teachers
C/o Education Centre Queens Road London E.17 8QS
020 8509 4212 Fax 020 8509 9668 |
