The North West Regional Secretary of the National Education Union is circulating the following letter to trade union organisations in the region about an industrial dispute at Langdale Free School in Blackpool:
Dear Colleagues
I’d be grateful if you could circulate details on our ongoing dispute at the above-named establishment and encourage support from amongst affiliates.
Langdale Free School located in the Warbreck ward of Blackpool is a small, ex-independent, Primary School employing seven teachers, all of whom are our members. As a free-school, and facilitated by the governments education policies, they are able to adopt pay and conditions of service outside of statutory guidance (“Blue Book”) and the recommendations of the School Teachers Review Body. Unsurprisingly, teachers’ pay levels at the school are significantly lower than in state-maintained schools including some just a few hundred yards away. Differentials of approximately £8,000/year or 35% are common and opportunities to remedy the situation are impeded by the employers’ refusal to accept voluntary union recognition. We’ve taken nine days of action so far this month with a further 10 planned before Christmas. So far, the employer has refused to meet the union (although they’ve offered a meeting with “staff representatives”) and have been responding aggressively to pickets.
Members’ resolve remains strong after some good initial local press coverage and we have had positive discussions with the leader of Blackpool Council and the Labour PPC for the constituency. ACAS have also offered assistance. However, our members would appreciate any support from the wider movement and I would therefore specifically ask affiliates to consider:
- Visiting our picket lines at 95 Warbreck Drive, Blackpool, FY2 9RZ from 7.30am until 9.30am on the following strike days:
· Tuesday 4th December 2018
· Wednesday 5th December 2018
· Thursday 6th December 2018
· Tuesday 11th to Thursday 13th December – to be confirmed
· Monday 19th and Tuesday 20th December – to be confirmed
- Sending a message of support to our Blackpool Secretary at Amanda.Baines@neu.org.uk
- Addressing any concerns about attempts to depress wages in the local community to the Chair of Governors, Mrs Alison Forrest at: a.forrest@langdaleschool.com
- Publicising the details of this dispute amongst respective memberships, particularly in the Blackpool area
I will be pleased to provide further reports to the Executive Group and Regional Council or answer any email questions at any time.
