Park staff to Strike on Wednesday ?

Members of the National Union of Teachers and the NASUWT union will take strike action at Park College on Wednesday 16th December, in an ongoing dispute over changes to pay and conditions.

Dave Brinson, Division Secretary for the NUT said:-

"This dispute is not demanding any sort of pay rise- it is simply members wishing to keep the pay and conditions they already have. As qualified and skilled teachers, my members belive it is fair that they continue to be employed on nationally recognised Teachers' Contracts.

"We have been in negotiations with the college for nearly six months since suspending strike action in the summer, but members are frustrated at the lack of any significant progress. It is with great regret that we have taken the decision to resume action."

NUT members, representing the majority of Park College staff, have been in dispute for more than a year over issues at Park. An online petition to Prime Minister Gordon Brown received over 700 signatures, and nearly 200 people attended a public meeting at Eastbourne Town Hall in May, where speakers included Stephen Lloyd of the Lib Dems, and musician David Ford.

Senior officials of the NUT are met Principal John Blake and college managers on Friday 11th December. We understand that certain proposals are being considered , that could lead to the action on Wednesday being suspended.

Dave Brinson was optimistic that progress could be made: "No teacher takes strike action lightly, but we have been left feeling that there really is no alternative at the moment."

Gordon Says....

The petition signed by 771 people urging the Prime Minister to intervene to keep Park College as a distinct sixth form college with teachers paid on nationally recognised sixth-form teachers' contracts has now closed.

The Prime Minister's (rather disappointing, but predictable) response is:-

"Further education colleges are key to ensuring that every local community has a resource at its heart, charged with delivering high quality opportunities to learners and employers. Further education colleges are independent bodies. As a result it is the college governing body, in this case Sussex Downs College, which is responsible for matters relating to the current and future direction of the institution. This includes responsibility for making decisions about the operation of the college’s sites, such as Park College Eastbourne and all matters relating to the employment of staff including pay, terms and conditions. Such autonomy is important if we are to have a strong further education sector. It would therefore be inappropriate for Ministers to intervene.
We would however, expect a college to ensure opportunities for high-quality learning are maintained and the particular needs of all students continue to be addressed"

Talks: "Productive"

Following last term's solid strike action by NUT and NASUWT members at Park, a meeting was held earlier this week between regional officials of the two unions, and representatives of the Sussex Downs College management. These talks were described by the unions as "productive."

More information will follow in due course.

Solidarity

The dispute at Park has generated much interest across the country. Below are just a few messages of solidarity and support from colleagues across the country:

“Please could you pass on my message of support to teachers at Park College. The management at Park should be supporting their staff and supporting education not seeking to attack teachers. It's really good that you are fighting back against this. If your management get away with it - then others will try” Kevin Courtney, Camden NUT and Executive Member

"Please pass on my solidarity to the members involved." Simon Jones, NUT Executive

"Please pass on a message of support from myself and the Barking and Dagenham Division of the NUT to the Park College teachers taking strike action." Dominic Byrne, Barking and Dagenham NUT and Executive Member

"What a shameful attack from a foolish Board - I hope they live to feelshame. Say no to expeditious and immoral initiatives and campaign forcommon sense. Take ye not the road to, for example Harlow and SouthendColleges! Fight, fight and fight again to save to contracts we need. Wishing you good fortune and fortitude in your struggle." Jack Davies - City and Islington Sixth Form Colege.

"I'd like to send you a message of support from Barnsley NUT. If you are facing trying times then you will need determination and courage. I'm sure you have it in abundance." Roy Bowser Barnsley NUT President

"Please pass on a message of support from myself and Lewisham NUT:

DON’T UNDERMINE STAFF
DON’T UNDERMINE STUDENTS
DON’T UNDERMINE EDUCATION
Keep it Park!" Martin Powell-Davies, Lewisham NUT

"On behalf of everyone at Birmingham NUT, I would like to send a message of support to the teachers at Park College, and to wish them every success with their campaign."
Netta Ford, Birmingham NUT


"Please sent the members of the NUT & NASUWT my greetings and support fortheir stand against the damaging and unnecessary changes proposed to ParkCollege. We must continue to stand up for what we know to be right!! Thosein power must listen to the community made up of students, parents andteachers. Together we can be strong!" Gill Goodswen, National Vice President, NUT

"All the best in your fight." Jeff Bates, Westminster NUT

"Sutton NUT sends a message to NUT and NASUWT members at Park College in support of their action on pay. We appreciate your stand on behalf of all school teachers." Kate Daly, Sutton NUT.

"Please pass support to striking members at Park College from Redbridge NUT. This one they can definately win!!" Stuart McConnell, Redbridge NUT

What Can I Do ?

By popular demand, the action list for those who want to help the campaign, that was given out at our public meeting:

1. Sign the petition to Prime Minister Gordon Brown, by clicking here. We already have more than 300 signatures !
2. If you are on Facebook- click here to join the support group. Over 450 have !
3. Write to Sussex Downs Corporation members, via the clerk, Richard Coombs, at Sussex Downs Campus at Cross Levels Way, Eastbourne, BN21 2UF. There is a list of members in the post below !
4. Write or e-mail your local MP (even if you are a student, parent or concerned person who lives outside Eastbourne, but in the area reasonably served by the college, your local MP should respond to your concern.)
5. Write to the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, Ed Balls MP, at DCSF, Sanctuary Buildings, Great Smith Street, London, SW1P 3BT.
6. Wear the badge, and talk to your friends, family, neighbours about your wish to keep Park College as a dedicated Sixth Form “brand” within Sussex Downs.

Accountability ?

In answer to a number of parents and students who asked questions about the accountability at SDC- in particular, who the Governors were and how they could be contacted- we publish the following list of the SDC Governing Body ("the Corporation")

DICK HOLSTE: Chair of the corporation, a former senior manager in the banking industry. Director of Sussex County Cricket Club.

DR CHRIS DUCKLING: Vice chair. Engineer and MD of the company Many Oaks Consultancy Ltd.

DAN BARRATT OBE: Retired former director of Llewellyns. President of the Eastbourne Conservative Party.

JOHN CRAWFORD: Chief Executive of Lewes District Council

FIONA CURRIE: Chartered Accountant for Price and Company.

TONY FEEK: Retired army officer. Formerly clerk to the East Sussex Lietenancy. Also a governor of Whitehawk Primary school.

SALLY GAUSDEN: Chartered Accountant at Perkins Copeland.

PEGGY HALL: Solicitor: Partner at Mayo Wynne Baxter.

BRIAN HIGGINS: Retired Sales and Marketing manager. Former Conservative Group leader on Eastbourne Borough Council.

IAN JUNGIUS: Headteacher of Willingdon Community School since 1993.

NATASHA KEELEY: Student member from the Eastbourne Campuses.

BENJI LAMB: Student member from the Lewes Campus.

AMANDA LIVINGSTONE: Support Staff governor

MO LAN MARKEY: Trustee Board member of Sompriti, a charitable organisation.

GRAHAM MARSDEN: Retired teacher, Conservative Councillor on Eastbourne Borough Council (former Mayor and Leader of the Council)

KIERAN MCNAMARA: Senior officer (Head of Strategic Economic Development and Europe) at East Sussex County Council

HOWARD MEDWAY: Teaching staff representative.

NICOLA SMITH: Principal lecturer at Brighton University.

MARIAN TREW: Former university lecturer, also at the University of Brighton.

and... of course...

DR JOHN BLAKE: Principal and Chief Executive of Sussex Downs College.

All governors can be contacted via the clerk to the Governors, who is Mr Richard Coombs, and is based at the Eastbourne campus.

NUT and NASUWT Action: Solid

Once again, teachers were prepared to take action in defence of their terms and conditions, and to demonstrate their determination to keep Park as a centre of Sixth Form excellence. Members of the NUT and NASUWT mounted a solid strike, with pickets covering all entrances to the college. A number of students and parents also gave their support to the action- pictured, and hundreds of leaflets were taken.

A big THANK YOU to all of those motorists who hooted their support !

A big THANK YOU to all of you who took leaflets !

A big THANK YOU to the people of Eastbourne who are standing with us in this campaign.