NUT-agreement to do nothing about anything

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anything.

The Executive had done its best to prepare for this by introducing postal ballot elections for delegates-heavily biasing conference in favour of the right wing.

But still the Executive had to fight to uphold its proposals on every major question that arosesalaries, education cuts, racialism and control of the curriculum.

Many passionate words were spoken, and much "deploring" and "urging" went on, while any call for the Executive to do more than "negotiate" was treated with derision by the platform, and thrown out.

Two and a half hours of votes of thanks, at an estimated cost of £9,000 per hour, squandered thousands of pounds subscription money.

Then Fred Jarvis, General Secretary successfully moved acceptance of the latest sell-out offer on pay.

He was backed up by the newly-installed president, who refused to accept any amendments to the motion calling for acceptance, thus preventing any discussion of the original inadequate claim.

The settlement was accepted by a large majority, while Jarvis emptily insisted that the NUT "does not recognise" and "would not be bound by" government-imposed limits.

The Executive's determination to connive in cutting teachers' living standards was further detailed in the Salary Policy 1979-80.

Vague remarks on increases in salaries to improve real living standards" were combined with wheeling out ex-Stalinist Max Morris to help knife any more specific proposals on wages.

An amendment in the name of East London and Wandsworth called for increases of not less than £1,000 per annum for all teachers and inflation-proofing.

It also called for a Salaries Conference and a campaign of action, including strike action, to win the claim.

Morris attacked this, put on a fine comic act designed to have delegates rolling in the ailes.

He based his attack entirely on the needs of capitalism to introduce cuts in the social services and for teachers and the whole of the working class to put the "economic good of the country" in front of everything else.

Morris also presented the 'Action Report 1978' which accepts redeployment and school closures-as long as "adequate consultation" takes place!

Again an amendment from East London calling for the full restoration of the social services as they existed before the cuts and for full employment for teachers was ridiculed since it put forward a policy to campaign for these demands.

This included the implementation of no-cover, establishment of joint action committees with other trade unionists and the granting of support to school groups which voted to take action in support of union policy.

One motion which was amended was that on racialism, which opposed immigration controls and pledged support for members who refuse to work with active racialists in the schools, such as National Front members.

It called on union members to prevent harrassment of teachers and children by racialists, the distribution racialist leaflets in school and the use of school premises for NF and fascist meetings.

This motion brought out some real red-baiting statements from Executive members.

They blamed the so-called "extremists" of both the left and right for the rise of racialism and counselled reliance on the police.

The Executive speakers were clearly much more concerned to try and discredit those who want to defeat the racists than in trying to deal with the growth of racist activity.

A motion was passed calling on the government to introduce legislation making it a statutory duty on LEAs to provide nursery places for all 3-5 year olds whose parents wish them to receive it.

Unfortunately a vicious witch-hunting speech by J. Steadman ensured that a discussion on the occupation of the South Oxford Nursery Class was refused.

Almost in parting, the chairman threatened legal action on the Rank and File group for asking whether speakers cards had been taken in the correct order. An appropriate witch-hunting note on which to end. for a major campaign against the Basnett plan and in favour of trade union independence in the public sector.

Campaign

The GLC Branch of NALGO has resolved to start such a campaign, initially with resolutions to the Metropolitian District Council and to Trades Councils in the London area.

Other NALGO branches should support this campaign. In the other public sector unions there should be similar campaigns in preparation for annual conferences summer.

Full use should be made of joint shop stewards committees and trades councils to carry these policies into as many branches as possible.

Drain A co-ordinating conference of branches of all the unions involved will be needed at an early stage to put forward a clear alternative policy. This policy should include:

*Free collective bargaining now-against Basnett and Whitley.

*Against cash limits, wage controls and the 12 month rule.

*For full accountability and recall of elected union officers.

*For sliding scales of wages and expenditure on public services to protect against inflation.