The March - 26th Nov 2002

Assemble 10:30am at Lincolns Inn Fields WC1 (Holborn tube)
March leaves at 11:15am
Arrive at the Kennington Oval Cricket Ground for a rally 12:30 - 1:30
Speakers include:

• Eamonn O'Kane   Gen Sec NASUWT
• Doug McAvoy      Gen Sec NUT
• more to be confirmed

October 30th 2002

The results of the ballot on industrial action were announced today. On Tuesday 26th November members of NASUWT, NUT and UNISON will strike in protest at the refusal to increase the London Weighting Allowance. Teachers are claiming a £6,000 LWA (and parity with police officers) while support staff are claiming £4,000 LWA.

The ballot was across the whole of London and the fringe areas

UNISON is already pursuing industrial action and did not need another ballot. Their action is separate to that of the teaching unions, but is on the same day and they will be joining us on the rally.
There may be a number of joint lobbies in the morning across the capitol bfore the march assembles at Lincolns Inn at 10:30. See your local association for details.

Wednesday 22nd May 2002

A rally was held in support of London Teachers supported by all three Classroom teacher unions. Eamonn O'Kane of the NASUWT and Doug Macavoy of the NUT shared the platform. There was agreement on the urgency of lobbying for an "interim" award for London weighting. This means money now, not waiting (excuse the pun) until next year.

Please could you also contact your MP to ask them to support Early Day Motion #986 "Teachers London Allowances". Tell your MP how difficult it is to keep staff (including you!) in our schools and what is being done to fill the gaps.)

If you can't write directly, then visit www.faxyourmp.com

All members in London should be receiving a letter at home with the following information. Following a similar campaign by the Metropolitan police, it is hoped that the same points can be made. Rather than writing to members own MPs, all teachers are encouraged to write to the MPs for their schools - which means they are in a position to make a difference.

Members teaching in North Islington will write to Jeremy Corbyn, those in the south of the borough will write to Chris Smith at The House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA. The mailout contains the names of MPs in other areas.

LONDON ALLOWANCE CAMPAIGN (Progress up until Easter)

At the Inner NASUWT London Executive meeting of 13.12.01 a motion proposing a lobbying campaign to achieve a realistic London Allowance of £6000 ( on a par with the police ) was passed unanimously.

It was further agreed that the campaign would be a joint one with the NUT and SHA. The NAHT have also shown an interest.

Encourage colleagues from all Unions to take part.

It would take the form of letter writing to the MP of our places of employment and would be operated in the fortnight beginning 20.1.02.


All members are asked to write to their MP at HOUSE OF COMMONS, LONDON SW1 0AA outlining their case for a £6000 London Allowance.


It was agreed that the letter writing should be personalised.
Where members live in the same Borough as their school this should be part of the letter and specific questions should be asked.


A key issue that should be pointed out is that police and teachers have identical living costs in London and both deal with a relatively difficult clientele compared with the Shires.


There is a chronic teacher shortage in London and the system is propped up by a transient supply force which fails to provide the continuity necessary to give pupils the genuine relationship with staff which often underpins academic and social progress.


The need to RETAIN and RECRUIT has caused divisions in schools where points have been awarded unfairly to a work force doing the same job.


A flat £6000 would help teamwork, improving morale and staffing provision.


All members are urged to write about these issues to their workplace MPs in the fortnight commencing 20.1.02.

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