Over 4,000 people came onto the streets of Oxford on 21 September to demonstrate against proposed education cuts by the Tory-controlled Oxford County Council. The demonstration coincided with a half day teachers" strike designed to highlight E5 million cuts which would lead to teachers being sacked, classes of over 40 pupils, and a 40 per cent cut in the provision of books and oiner materiais.
At a public meeting following the demonstration, Frank Huff. a local official of the National Union of Public Employees, said that he hoped the demonstration would form the start of a national campaign against public spending cuts. In placing the Oxford cuts in this national perspective, Huff was arguing against those who see the fight as simply against the Tory Council. For the local Tories can argue with some justification that they are doing no more than carrying out Labour Government policy — indeed, the leader of the Tory Council has even claimed that they are cutting less than the Government has demanded!
Such excuses had little effect on those who spoke at the Oxford puonc meenng. even ine rresiaent ojine vanonal Union oJ Teachers, Alf Wilshire - who is not particularly known for militancy — warned that the Council was on "a collision course with the unions. But such threats now need to be put into action, something which the local NUT leadership appears reluctant to do. At a union meeting held after the demonstration a resolutior calling for immediate action was ruled out of order on the grounds that 'the whole membership needed to be consulted".
Such hesitancy will do little to help members of the National Association of Schoolmasters who are sunchions ov rerusine to cover or any reachers wnose dosence from the school was known in advance. represents one beginning for a local fight back against the Government and council policies. Local Labour councillor Arthur Greenman has pointed to another by, as he put it, "pleading with Labour members to stand up and fight the Government on this issue. 'We have declared war against the cuts in the health service', a hospital shop steward told a mass meeting after workers at all the hospitals in the City and Hackney districts in London's East End struck and marched last Thursday to the Metropolitan Hospital in protest at the cuts recently announced by the Area Health Authority. due for closure at the end of September. The recently formed Joint Shop Stewards Committee in the area has called for strike action starting on 13 October, the day before the next meeting of the AHA.
All of these complaints relate solely to the summer and autumn terms of 1974 ly'. This was "rubbish', said Ellis. when they first arrived at the school. No charges arise of a later date and no inspector or official ever made a complaint inrougnout ine enure period waen Ellis and Haddow were teaching there. As to the charges of 'indiscipline', these refer to nothing more than the fact that some in the front line. of the teachers went on strike in SeptemTerry Ellis also took a swipe last week at the so-called *progressive establishincreased majority.
employers years. Personna, to get rid of some 400 of its workforce.
already imposing The NAS action now potentially on the rise. itself.
Party's passive support for the Government. fortnight ago.
Councillor Davie beans The Metropolitan itself is only that the Tyndale teachers failed to carry out progressive methods 'efficient- The proposed Assembly The Labour Government are trying to pressure the ILEA into further cuts in the schools. Scapegoats are needed to explain nowever. the drop in educational standards that will form of elected Scottish Assembly. inevitably result. Left-wing teachers are one target. and the lyndale teachers are The refusal of the NUT to back them in only be interpreted (correctly) their clash with the ILEA is completely in frightened politicians line with the systematic failure of the Government's policies in Scotland.
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