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Upfront

Making sweet music for youth

Over 600 students from the Gloucestershire massed ensemble were among thousands of schoolchildren performing over three nights at the Music for Youth School Proms at the Royal Albert Hall in London in November. Founded in 1970, Music for Youth is a national music education charity providing free performance opportunities for people aged 21 and under through an annual season of nationwide festivals and concerts. The NUT is a major supporter.

For more details visit www.mfy.org.uk.

Pension cost increases mean pay cut

The Department for Education has issued a consultation document on its proposed increase in employee pension contributions from April.

This is the second part of a three-year plan and would mean an average 1.3 per cent rise in contributions. A further increase is planned for April 2014. The Government intends teachers to pay 9.6 per cent – 50 per cent more than in April 2012.

The Union has responded, making clear our opposition. Such increases at a time of pay freeze mean teachers’ pay is in effect being cut.

The proposed increase has been incorporated into an updated version of the NUT’s pension loss calculator, which can be found at www.teachers.org.uk/pensions Find details of the increase at www.teachers.org.uk/node/16881

London teachers win talks

NUT and NASUWT members at Stratford Academy in Newham, east London, have suspended further strike action after an interim agreement was reached following talks through Acas. They took the first of a number of days of strike action on 25 October over punitive fines unfairly imposed by the school’s governing body.

The members are taking part in the two unions’ joint action short of strike action to improve the working lives of teachers and improve conditions for the young people they work with. Unlike others, however, they have had their salaries cut by 15 per cent and been threatened by school managers and governors for refusing to carry out tasks that take them away from their core role of teaching.

Following the agreement, the school has committed to not making, or threatening, pay deductions while talks continue on outstanding issues.

Climate change

The NUT is working with Greenpeace and Concern Universal, among others, to create resources that inspire pupils to make a difference on climate change. The resources, for an enrichment day for KS3/4, show how the threat of climate change can become an opportunity to do something different.

For details, email maggie.steel@concern-universal.org or go to www.makewav.es/reclaimourfuture.

Volunteer to help your union

If you would like to add your name to the growing list of members volunteering to get involved in the NUT, go to www.teachers.org.uk/getinvolved to give us your details.