Feeble Pay Claim Hides Will to Fight

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As the Easter school remains unresolved.

Despite the limited nature of the industrial action being taken-withdrawal from voluntary activities-support has grown rapidly.

Contrary to the wishes of the reactionary teachers union leaders-who have always opposed developments like the National Union of School Students-the closing of schools at lunchtime in certain areas has also sparked off a wave of radicalisation among youth.

Frustrations

Demonstrations have taken place in many areas, particularly in Birmingham, and despite the attempts of the capitalist press to turn this against teachers, the movement expresses the real frustrations of school students which increasingly spread into militant action.

Youth in Birmingham who marched to the Town Hall raised demands calling on the authorities to meet the teachers' claim.

In London, the Inner has called on the NUT Executive to call a one day national strike in support of the claim.

The same move has taken place in other associations, such as Enfield.

The mood of teachers has been strengthened by the resignation of Sir Astley Bramall from the management panel which judges pay awards.

Readiness

But the central lesson of the present move is the readiness of present teachers, not noted for wages militancy, to go forward when even the slightest hint of a lead is given.

The NUT bureaucrats have only recommended action, whereas the NAS/UWT has instructed its members.

But both groups are ready to settle for the mere offer of an extra 1% and not in the least ready to break the 10% limit.

They are concerned only with a certain limited protest which they can use to present as a fight over salaries.

The readiness of teachers to follow this lead gives a slight indication of the response that could have been

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holidays begin, the teachers' pay dispute