Louise Nousratpour in Blackpool
Tuesday May 30, 2006
The Morning Star
TARGET OF THE US: Conference highlighted the need to defend the emerging socialist societies of Venezuela and Bolivia under Hugo Chavez (right) and Evo Morales.
NATFHE delegates in Blackpool vowed yesterday to intensify their international campaign in the face of increased "neoliberal warmongering" in the Middle East and Latin America.
Conference stressed the need to strengthen the union's successful international activities to defend emerging socialist countries such as Venezuela and Bolivia, while showing strong opposition to the continued illegal war in Iraq, sanctions on Palestine and possible attacks on Iran.
In a range of motions on international issues, delegates stressed the importance of carrying the campaign into the new merged union UCU.
Southern delegate David Fysh demanded an end to the US and British-backed economic sanctions on Palestine, as well as the recognition of the democratically elected Hamas government.
He also called on delegates to reaffirm their support for Palestinian universities and colleges.
West Midlands delegate Darrall Cozens condemned the recent hostile media coverage of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's visit to London which falsely depicted him as a dictator.
Mr Cozens argued that the US had increased its interference and economic sabotage in Venezuela to prepare the ground for an invasion.
"If the US was not bogged down in Iraq, it would have invaded the country by now," Mr Cozens warned, urging delegates to chant pro-Chavez slogans to show support for Venezuela's Bolivarian revolution.
During a debate on Iran, Yorkshire and Humberside delegate Howard Miles condemned the US and Britain's "hypocritical sabre-rattling" over Tehran's nuclear programme.
Mr Miles called on conference to step-up its anti-war campaign by encouraging all branches as well as the new union to support the Stop the War Coalition's position of "Bring the troops home, don't attack Iran."
NATFHE backs boycott of Israeli scholars
Louise Nousratpour in Blackpool
Tuesday May 30, 2006
The Morning Star
LECTURERS' union NATFHE delegates voted yesterday to boycott individual Israeli academics who are indifferent to their government's "apartheid and violent" policies, despite considerable disquiet from many members.
On the final day of conference in Blackpool, south-east delegate Tom Hickey moved the highly controversial motion, which critics warned would provoke a backlash and could even bring "dishonour" to the union.
Mr Hickey insisted that he was not calling for the academic boycott of Israel as union policy but was inviting members to "exercise their moral and professional responsiblity.
"Israeli scholars are overwhelmingly silent on Israel's apartheid policies and discriminatory educational practices," he argued.
"I urge members to consider the appropriateness of a boycott of those that do not publicly dissociate themselves from such policies."
Executive member Mary Davis denied suggestions that the Israeli academics were turning a blind eye.
"They are, in fact, at the core of a strong peace movement against the occupation and everything that comes with it," she said.
"If we are to boycott Israeli academics, should we then not take the same position against those from the US and Britain, many of whom have been silent on their own governments' warmongering?"
Ms Davis warned: "This is an attempt to elevate a tactic into a principle."
In an unusual step, outgoing NATFHE general secretary Paul Mackney made an emotional plea with the hope of defeating the motion.
"It seeks to put the burden on the individuals themselves and not collective action," he insisted.
"We need sustainable policies, such as campaigning to stop the sales of arms to the Israeli state, based on collective action."
Mr Mackney also argued that the call to boycott Israeli academics "lacks legitimacy" because it had not been discussed adequately by most union branches.
Mr Hickey rejected this argument, insisting that it had followed the same procedures as any other motion.
London delegate and Academic Friends for Israel chairman Ronnie Fraser also condemned the motion.
"This will pressure members into action that is undemocratic and McCarthyite in spirit. It will bring dishonour and sheer ridicule to our union," he stormed.
The resolution was carried by a majority of 53 per cent, while around 39 per cent opposed it.
Tuesday May 30, 2006
The Morning Star
LECTURERS' union NATFHE delegates voted yesterday to boycott individual Israeli academics who are indifferent to their government's "apartheid and violent" policies, despite considerable disquiet from many members.
On the final day of conference in Blackpool, south-east delegate Tom Hickey moved the highly controversial motion, which critics warned would provoke a backlash and could even bring "dishonour" to the union.
Mr Hickey insisted that he was not calling for the academic boycott of Israel as union policy but was inviting members to "exercise their moral and professional responsiblity.
"Israeli scholars are overwhelmingly silent on Israel's apartheid policies and discriminatory educational practices," he argued.
"I urge members to consider the appropriateness of a boycott of those that do not publicly dissociate themselves from such policies."
Executive member Mary Davis denied suggestions that the Israeli academics were turning a blind eye.
"They are, in fact, at the core of a strong peace movement against the occupation and everything that comes with it," she said.
"If we are to boycott Israeli academics, should we then not take the same position against those from the US and Britain, many of whom have been silent on their own governments' warmongering?"
Ms Davis warned: "This is an attempt to elevate a tactic into a principle."
In an unusual step, outgoing NATFHE general secretary Paul Mackney made an emotional plea with the hope of defeating the motion.
"It seeks to put the burden on the individuals themselves and not collective action," he insisted.
"We need sustainable policies, such as campaigning to stop the sales of arms to the Israeli state, based on collective action."
Mr Mackney also argued that the call to boycott Israeli academics "lacks legitimacy" because it had not been discussed adequately by most union branches.
Mr Hickey rejected this argument, insisting that it had followed the same procedures as any other motion.
London delegate and Academic Friends for Israel chairman Ronnie Fraser also condemned the motion.
"This will pressure members into action that is undemocratic and McCarthyite in spirit. It will bring dishonour and sheer ridicule to our union," he stormed.
The resolution was carried by a majority of 53 per cent, while around 39 per cent opposed it.
Education minister comes in for heavy heckling
Louise Nousratpour in Blackpool
Monday May 29, 2006
The Morning Star
NATFHE members served Higher Education Minister Bill Rammell a heavy dose of heckling and hissing at the weekend as he struggled to defend the government's unpopular education plans.
In a tedious speech at the union's conference on Saturday, Mr Rammell tried hard to smooth-talk delegates, who made no attempt to hide their frustration with the government's failure to address their concerns over pay and poor funding.
"You are crucial to this country's core educational mission. Don't think it is not recognised," he offered, immediately provoking fierce heckling from delegates, who cried: "Pay us a decent wage then."
But, instead of acknowleding their legitimate pay claim, the minister implied that the striking lecturers had no regard for their students by taking industrial action.
Enraged Southern region delegate Dave Fysh shouted across the floor: "You're a disgrace for blaming us while the employers are the ones refusing to make a serious offer."
Mr Rammell shamelessly declared that the university bosses' initial pay offer of 12.6 per cent over three years was "very substantial," which prompted more heckling and slow clapping.
The minister went on to admit that adult education was the "Cinderella" of the education sector and pledged to tackle low pay through the discredited Forster report and the subsequent white paper.
Mr Rammell persisted that the government had a "proud record" of investment in the sector, but he suggested that private funding was necessary to meet current needs.
His comments were again drowned by loud hissing from delegates, who shouted: "Shame on you for promoting privatisation in education."
As the minister was leaving, conference broke into a spontaneous chanting: "We know it's there - where's our share?"
Monday May 29, 2006
The Morning Star
NATFHE members served Higher Education Minister Bill Rammell a heavy dose of heckling and hissing at the weekend as he struggled to defend the government's unpopular education plans.
In a tedious speech at the union's conference on Saturday, Mr Rammell tried hard to smooth-talk delegates, who made no attempt to hide their frustration with the government's failure to address their concerns over pay and poor funding.
"You are crucial to this country's core educational mission. Don't think it is not recognised," he offered, immediately provoking fierce heckling from delegates, who cried: "Pay us a decent wage then."
But, instead of acknowleding their legitimate pay claim, the minister implied that the striking lecturers had no regard for their students by taking industrial action.
Enraged Southern region delegate Dave Fysh shouted across the floor: "You're a disgrace for blaming us while the employers are the ones refusing to make a serious offer."
Mr Rammell shamelessly declared that the university bosses' initial pay offer of 12.6 per cent over three years was "very substantial," which prompted more heckling and slow clapping.
The minister went on to admit that adult education was the "Cinderella" of the education sector and pledged to tackle low pay through the discredited Forster report and the subsequent white paper.
Mr Rammell persisted that the government had a "proud record" of investment in the sector, but he suggested that private funding was necessary to meet current needs.
His comments were again drowned by loud hissing from delegates, who shouted: "Shame on you for promoting privatisation in education."
As the minister was leaving, conference broke into a spontaneous chanting: "We know it's there - where's our share?"
Mackney hits out at privatisation
Louise Nousratpour in Blackpool
Monday May 29, 2006
The Morning Star
NATFHE general secretary Paul Mackney condemned the "idiot wind" of government privatisation at the weekend when he addressed the lecturers' union's final conference.
"We've seen privatised FE before and more of it is about as welcome as snakes in a pram," Mr Mackney warned delegates during his address on Saturday.
"The new adult education is wide open to greed and sleaze with its emphasis on privatisation.
"Urging colleges to seek funding from philanthropic millionaires is like recommending oral sex with a shark," he said amid roars of laughter.
Mr Mackney, who will be retiring this year due to a heart condition, stressed that "what we want is solid state funding from a progressive taxation system, not charity from the rich who maintain their wealth in tax havens."
He also attacked university bosses' refusal to meet their workforce's demand for a 23 per cent pay rise over three years - to compensate for a 40 per cent pay decline in the past two decades compared with average earnings - which lies at the heart of the current pay dispute.
"The lethal combination of hypocrisy accompanies 'feline obesity,' with many vice-chancellors awarding themselves substantial pay rises whilst denying such increases to their front-line staff," he noted.
Mr Mackney rejected "offensive" suggestions that lecturers who are refusing to mark final exams as part of their action over pay have no regard for their students.
Earlier in the day, during her address to conference, National Union of Students president Kat Fletcher insisted that her members "stand by you every step of the way."
The NATFHE leader also took a strong line on the illegal occupation of Palestine by Israeli forces, noting that he had been sent over 5,000 emails, many of which accused him of anti-semitism and ordered him to stop a proposed motion on a boycott of Israeli goods, which will be debated today.
"The Palestinian people need support and solidarity as never before and I will not be bullied into silence," he insisted, launching a scathing attack on the international community for imposing sanctions on Palestine.
Finally, Mr Mackney called on members to take their fighting spirit against low pay, the illegal Iraq war and racism into the new union UCU, which will be formed by a merger of NATFHE and AUT on Thursday.
Monday May 29, 2006
The Morning Star
NATFHE general secretary Paul Mackney condemned the "idiot wind" of government privatisation at the weekend when he addressed the lecturers' union's final conference.
"We've seen privatised FE before and more of it is about as welcome as snakes in a pram," Mr Mackney warned delegates during his address on Saturday.
"The new adult education is wide open to greed and sleaze with its emphasis on privatisation.
"Urging colleges to seek funding from philanthropic millionaires is like recommending oral sex with a shark," he said amid roars of laughter.
Mr Mackney, who will be retiring this year due to a heart condition, stressed that "what we want is solid state funding from a progressive taxation system, not charity from the rich who maintain their wealth in tax havens."
He also attacked university bosses' refusal to meet their workforce's demand for a 23 per cent pay rise over three years - to compensate for a 40 per cent pay decline in the past two decades compared with average earnings - which lies at the heart of the current pay dispute.
"The lethal combination of hypocrisy accompanies 'feline obesity,' with many vice-chancellors awarding themselves substantial pay rises whilst denying such increases to their front-line staff," he noted.
Mr Mackney rejected "offensive" suggestions that lecturers who are refusing to mark final exams as part of their action over pay have no regard for their students.
Earlier in the day, during her address to conference, National Union of Students president Kat Fletcher insisted that her members "stand by you every step of the way."
The NATFHE leader also took a strong line on the illegal occupation of Palestine by Israeli forces, noting that he had been sent over 5,000 emails, many of which accused him of anti-semitism and ordered him to stop a proposed motion on a boycott of Israeli goods, which will be debated today.
"The Palestinian people need support and solidarity as never before and I will not be bullied into silence," he insisted, launching a scathing attack on the international community for imposing sanctions on Palestine.
Finally, Mr Mackney called on members to take their fighting spirit against low pay, the illegal Iraq war and racism into the new union UCU, which will be formed by a merger of NATFHE and AUT on Thursday.
Lecturers step up pay dispute
Louise Nousratpour in Blackpool
Monday May 29, 2006
The Morning Star
OUTRAGE: Education workers protesting outside the ICC in Birmingham, last year.
NATFHE delegates vowed yesterday to step up industrial action to force "greedy hypocrite" employers to make a fair pay offer.
Lecturers, who had hoped that a marathon 23-hour negotiation session with employers last week would produce an offer worthy of a debate at their union's conference, expressed outrage at the employers' refusal to table a deal.
They vowed to march on London on Thursday - the day when NATFHE and sister union AUT merge to form the new UCU - to demand fair pay.
NATFHE head of universities Roger Kline accused bosses of deliberately refusing to make an offer so that delegates could not discuss it at conference.
"But they misjudged the mood of our members, which is to not only maintain but to step up the action," he insisted.
"I have not received one single letter or email from any member asking me to ballot members on the bosses' initial 12.6 per cent three-year offer - which was rejected by union negotiators - or to end the dispute," he said.
"So the support for action is still rock solid," Mr Kline insisted.
Delegates heard that, during the negotiations last Thursday and Friday, employers had tabled various "inadequate" offers which had been rejected by union negotiators.
These included a two-year settlement of 9 to 11 per cent on the pay scale, which NATFHE national officer Andy Pike stressed would have been worth below 8 per cent in real terms.
Although it was a two-year deal, employers wanted to pay it out over three years - with commitments from union officials that no action would be taken in the third year.
"Bosses claimed that they could not afford anything more, so we asked for an independent financial review of their kitty," Mr Pike explained.
"They refused to meet this demand or put out a fresh offer.
"So the dispute will go on until we are made a satisfactory offer with no strings attached."
In the light of the new development, delegates vowed to stick to their original call for a 23 per cent pay rise over three years.
AUT and NATFHE members have been involved in a series of actions short of strikes for over eight months, including a refusal to mark final university exams.
Executive member Jill Jones moved a motion expressing the union's determination to fight the dispute "to the bitter end."
It was passed unanimously.
"Our members are facing daily threats of pay deductions and lock-outs, but support for continued action is solid," Ms Jones said.
Executive member Mary Davies condemned employers' "unacceptable" demand that union members should give up their right to take action in the third year of a deal.
"And, if they think pay docking will result in us caving in, they should think again.
"We will not be bullied into submission," she added to cheers.
Southern region delegate Michael Jardine hailed the National Union of Students' support for the lecturers' dispute.
"The employers' despicable behaviour is directly to blame for disruption to students' education due to our dispute - not us," he insisted.
"They will not succeed in driving a wedge between us and our students, who fully back our claim."
London delegate Steve Cushion urged members across Britain to join Thursday's demonstration to "reject the employers' pathetic offer through a united, determined, mass action."
The march will assemble at 12.30pm at London South Bank University in Keyworth Street.
Monday May 29, 2006
The Morning Star
OUTRAGE: Education workers protesting outside the ICC in Birmingham, last year.
NATFHE delegates vowed yesterday to step up industrial action to force "greedy hypocrite" employers to make a fair pay offer.
Lecturers, who had hoped that a marathon 23-hour negotiation session with employers last week would produce an offer worthy of a debate at their union's conference, expressed outrage at the employers' refusal to table a deal.
They vowed to march on London on Thursday - the day when NATFHE and sister union AUT merge to form the new UCU - to demand fair pay.
NATFHE head of universities Roger Kline accused bosses of deliberately refusing to make an offer so that delegates could not discuss it at conference.
"But they misjudged the mood of our members, which is to not only maintain but to step up the action," he insisted.
"I have not received one single letter or email from any member asking me to ballot members on the bosses' initial 12.6 per cent three-year offer - which was rejected by union negotiators - or to end the dispute," he said.
"So the support for action is still rock solid," Mr Kline insisted.
Delegates heard that, during the negotiations last Thursday and Friday, employers had tabled various "inadequate" offers which had been rejected by union negotiators.
These included a two-year settlement of 9 to 11 per cent on the pay scale, which NATFHE national officer Andy Pike stressed would have been worth below 8 per cent in real terms.
Although it was a two-year deal, employers wanted to pay it out over three years - with commitments from union officials that no action would be taken in the third year.
"Bosses claimed that they could not afford anything more, so we asked for an independent financial review of their kitty," Mr Pike explained.
"They refused to meet this demand or put out a fresh offer.
"So the dispute will go on until we are made a satisfactory offer with no strings attached."
In the light of the new development, delegates vowed to stick to their original call for a 23 per cent pay rise over three years.
AUT and NATFHE members have been involved in a series of actions short of strikes for over eight months, including a refusal to mark final university exams.
Executive member Jill Jones moved a motion expressing the union's determination to fight the dispute "to the bitter end."
It was passed unanimously.
"Our members are facing daily threats of pay deductions and lock-outs, but support for continued action is solid," Ms Jones said.
Executive member Mary Davies condemned employers' "unacceptable" demand that union members should give up their right to take action in the third year of a deal.
"And, if they think pay docking will result in us caving in, they should think again.
"We will not be bullied into submission," she added to cheers.
Southern region delegate Michael Jardine hailed the National Union of Students' support for the lecturers' dispute.
"The employers' despicable behaviour is directly to blame for disruption to students' education due to our dispute - not us," he insisted.
"They will not succeed in driving a wedge between us and our students, who fully back our claim."
London delegate Steve Cushion urged members across Britain to join Thursday's demonstration to "reject the employers' pathetic offer through a united, determined, mass action."
The march will assemble at 12.30pm at London South Bank University in Keyworth Street.
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