May 2014

TO:NUT GRIFFIN TRUST ACADEMY REPRESENTATIVES

NUT DIVISION SECRETARIES WITH GRIFFIN TRUST ACADEMIES

NUT REGIONAL SECRETARIES

NUT ORGANISERS

Dear Colleague

NUT GRIFFIN TRUST BRIEFING - SUMMER TERM 2014

This termly briefing focuses on the key issues of the ongoing NUT campaign to Stand Up for Education in opposition to Michael Gove’s attacks on pay, conditions and pensions; and the current situation in relation to pay, appraisal and trade union facilities time in Griffin Trust Academies.

The NUT is beginning to send email newsletters to all NUT members in all national Academy chains as part of a more regular programme of communication.

Continuing the Campaign

As you know, the NUT campaign includes teachers in Academies in exactly the same way as in schools, given the impact of the Government attacks on pay, conditions and pensions in Academies as well as schools.

Following the successful national strike on 26 March, NUT Conference at Easter agreed to continue the campaign through:

  • Stand up for education street stalls;
  • A Lobby of Parliament on 10 June, accompanied by local lobbying activities;
  • Preparing to strike in the week beginning 23 June if the Government doesn’t respond positively to teachers’ concerns about workload, pay and conditions.

The Executive will review the progress made in talks with DfE at its meeting on 22 May. If a strike is necessary, the Executive will seek to co-ordinate it with other education and public sector unions including the NASUWT.

Members can volunteer now at to help leaflet parents and the public, lobby MPs locally, lobby Parliament on 10 June or send a message to Parliament. We are seeking one lobbyist for every constituency for the lobby on 10 June.

Pay and PM/Appraisal Policies

Discussions with the Trust on these policies are at an early stage. A further meeting will be

held in June.

In the absence of Griffin Trust pay and PM/appraisal policies, schools are using the predecessor LA policy as the basis for their policy for the current year. Discussions with each school should reflect the NUT / NASUWT joint checklist.

Trade Union Facilities

The draft national recognition agreement states: “The Trust agrees in principle that its academies will participate in and contribute to arrangements operated by local authorities with regard to reasonable time off with pay for any employees who are local or national trade union officers. Where such arrangements do not exist or where a significant proportion of schools and academies in the area no longer participate in such arrangements, the Trust and the Trade Unions agree that the issue should be discussed on a case by case basis by the Trust and the trade unions. Subject to all costs being met in full and the operational requirements of each academy, local or national trade union officers will be permitted time off with pay for trade union duties undertaken in that capacity.”

Local secretaries should check to see that LAs are both seeking and accepting contributions from Academies and whether individual Griffin Trust Academies are contributing. Please let Steve Barrett at know about the position in each Academy.

Other Information

The Union held a very successful one-day national training and briefing meeting for reps in Academy chains on 2 April 2014. Thanks to those of you who attended that meeting. NUT organisers will be taking forward the outcomes of that meeting during the summer term.

The Griffin Trust now has 10 open Academies and is planning on opening more.

Information on the Griffin Trust will be placed on the website at Pay, Conditions and Pensions>Academies>Academy Chains when available.

NUT Contacts

The NUT Executive representative for Griffin Trust Academies has not yet been determined.

Representatives who need to seek assistance with any casework problems affecting individuals should, as ever, contact the NUT local secretary who can seek support from the NUT’s regional offices as appropriate. In the event that assistance or information is required from NUT headquarters, however, the following will be able to assist:

Andrew MorrisSteve Barrett

Head of SalariesProfessional Assistant

0207 380 47740207 380 4767

Yours sincerely

ANDREW MORRIS

Head of Department

Salaries, Superannuation and Education Economics

1