ON THE AFTERNOON of 11 July schools all over London were closed by an official National Union of Teachers strike.
Up to 10,000 teachers took part in a demonstration against the Pay Board's recommendations of a two-lier London Allowance and in support of the union's claim for E350 for all teachers, backdated to November 1972 when the claim was first submitted.
The Executive of the NUT were: forced to call the half-day strike because of the strength of the London Teachers' Action Committee strikes, The Action Committee had set 11 July as the date of their next strike and the NUT Executive was forced to take notice by calling an official strike on the same day - but only for the afternoon. Nevertheless, over forty schools supported the Action Committee and came out for the whole day.
The significance of this action was not lost on Reg Prentice, Education Secretary, who deplored the draw truncheons - but here they are, ready for action. strikts (official and unofficial) and refused to meet a delegation of striking teachers. Peter Shore, another London Labour MP was also unavailable. Little wonder that few of the 10,000 demonstrators remained behind to lobby their MPs.
Moreover, with a shorlage of 2000 teachers in London alone, and the E180 million cuts made by the Tories soon beginning to bite, It 1s hardly surprising that teachers have Bittle faith in the social compast or the Labour Government's ability to solve their problems. Teachers, like health workers, are beginning to realise that a real defence of the which has been leading the unofficial social services will only come about when they take up the fight themselves and win the active support of other sections of the working class. Unfortunately, the impact of Thurs day morning's unofficial strike was reduced by the International Social ists" unilateral decision that the morning's strike should concentrate on local' initiatives. The IS informed people that the central meeting called by the Action Committee was off even before the Action Committee Photos which give the lie to 'evidence' put forward at the inquest on Kevin Gataly. ABOVE: banner (arrowed) is upright, while Martin Walker (head had met! This kind of manipulative attitude towards the strikers does nothing to further the strugale.
Nevertheless Thursday's strike wak a victory, especially for the London Teachers Action Committee. Teachers should draw lessons from The pastive gains made in order to prepare for September, when term starts. The task facing the Action Committee now is to draw in wider support from many mote schools and thrash our plans for continuing the struggle.
ACTION
At the moment about 18 schools have decided to take indefinite strike action from 9 September. This shows the level of militancy and the self-confidence of teachers.
True, cerlain problems still remain. First, there is the chance of a summer holiday sell-out by the NUT Executive, or a Labour Government imedled seitlement. Second teachers could be faced in the autumn with a totally new situation with a general election on the way.
in October. Up to 10,000 teachers took part in the demonstration on 11 July And, of course all the problems confronting teachers will remain -teacher shortage, the national pay claim, the education cuts and the threshold agrooment due to expire The London Teachers Action Commule will lave To Cols 112Ss meeting of school delegates in order to work out a plan of action for the autumn term taking into account any developments and keeping teachers intormed and involved in the campaign, Such a meeling should also set about the task of mobilising teachers nationally and winning support from other sections of the RS working class in a fight to defend the education systern from the crisis of capitalism.
BETTY HUNTER ERRATUM In last week's edition of Red Weekly we described Bernard Regun as the "chairman of the Action Connaittee In fact there is not a fixed chairperson: he tells us that the chairperson is elected at each meering of the Action Committee. Our mistake arose because this des riotion of him was used in the national and London press after lie lad chaired the strike meeting on 3 July: which recened wide media coronage Our apologies to the London Teachers' Achon Commith: and Bernard Heein
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ringed), who claimed poles were "lowered like lances", has his back to the demonstration! BELOW: many witnesses claimed that foot police did not