Carlisle walks in-200 walk out

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The appearance of Tory. Educati on Minister Mark Carlisle was enough to prompt an immediate walk out by over 200 NUT conference delegates last Tuesday.

Many other delegates stayed away from the session, unable to stomach the sight of the axeman of education sitting on a trade union platform.

But a lot of delegates mistakenly decided to sit through his hour-long arrogant exposition of cuts, government control of the curriculum and attacks on conditions of service.

Seconds after Carlisle's opening sentence many sections of the hall rose to their feet, backs to Carlisle, in applause as delegates from Avon unfurled a large banner demanding "Give Avon Back its Teachers"

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Minutes later there was more applause as "All out May 14" was hung from the balcony.

Then, as Carlisle slowly began to get into his stride of attacks on teachers' conditions of service and on the comprehensive system the 200 delegates walked out and held an alternative meeting with speaker from Avon outlining the difficulties and achievements experienced by the NUT members there.

The next day Kennedy, NUT President, was questioned on the divisiveness of his decision to announce to Carlisle and the general public that "only 111" delegates had taken part in the walk-out.

'Black shirts"

Kennedy took advantage of this opportunity to further denigrate and witch-hunt. the demonstrators by. likening them to "a squad of Moseley's blackshirts"

A second demonstration of left wing anger against the actions of the National Executive was held on Wednesday evening when a group of delegates and members of Blackpool Trades Council picketed the "Mayor's Reception"-a free evening's entertainment offered by Blackpool's Tory Mayor and accepted by the Executive at the expense of the housing and other services of the people of Blackpool.

- Carlisle