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From The Socialist newspaper, 7 July 2021
Derby academies closed by strikes against brutal cuts and changes
Lees Brook picket line, photo Charlie Taylor (Click to enlarge)
Ian Hunter, Derby Socialist Party
Teachers, members of the National Education Union (NEU) at two Derby schools - Lees Brook Academy and Merrill Academy - were out on strike for a full day on 1 July. Both schools became part of Nottingham-based Archway Learning Trust in February 2021.
Archway Trust has embarked upon plans for a brutal 'reorganisation' at both schools, which will involve job cuts, replacement of qualified teachers with less qualified staff, increases in class sizes, and changes to curriculum that will mean a reduction in student choice in modern languages, arts, music, PE, drama and humanities. In addition, pastoral care and counselling provision will be severely curtailed.
NEU officers, reps and staff say they have been "ignored and frozen out by a distant trust." Archway Trust refuses to budge and negotiate further and has not acknowledged the dispute. Even so, management at both schools announced closure for the day.
I was welcomed on the picket line at Lees Brook School, where around 30 staff carried placards and banners, and distributed leaflets. There was a general mood of enthusiasm and determination for their fight. Two further strikes have been planned for 13-14 July.
This is undoubtedly an important and necessary fight. Education trusts are cutting costs and jobs, and attacking employment conditions throughout the country in order to increase profits, pay large salaries to executives, and bully staff into submission at the expense of employees, pupils and the local community.
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In The Socialist 7 July 2021:
What we think
Batley & Spen byelection: Another condemnation of Starmer's New Labour
The Struggle for World Socialism
The struggle for world socialism
NHS
News
Fund the measures needed to stop the Covid spread in schools
Manchester death rate caused by deprivation
Bristol: Police to blame for protest violence
Workplace news
Royal London Hospital strike win
Morrisons private equity takeover proposals - Usdaw needs to move to a war footing
Safety campaign in DWP: What has happened to our ballot?
Striking Brush workers continue to protest 'fire and rehire'
Striking Ealing parking attendants rally outside council
Derby academies closed by strikes against brutal cuts and changes
Socialist history
Terry Fields MP, Prisoner DV 3695 - The jailing of 'poll tax' rebel and Militant
International news
COP26: Socialist change to end the climate crisis
Israel: Hospital ancillary workers strike over pay parity and workload
Campaigns news
Rising against a rigged and rotten system
Why did I choose the Socialist Party?
Housing: Join the service charge 'strike'
Stop environmental destruction in Barnsley
"It's great to be back": Come to a Socialist Party in-person meeting
We need funds to fight Tory NHS attacks
Road closures: Hackney residents have not been consulted
Reviews
The story of Joe Clough - Britain's first black bus driver
Exhibition: What next for the statue of slave trader, Edward Colston?
TV - Statue wars: one summer in Bristol
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2021