Every union, including the NEU, has been desperate to dissipate the anger and opposition amongst public sector workers to the devastating impact of austerity and rising inflation producing a collapse in living standards and a funding crisis to essential public services.
Despite the NEU being handed the largest strike mandate since at least 2016, only seven strike days were announced, to give space for these rotten deals to be struck.
The Department for Education is making International Monetary Fund-type “safety valve” deals with local councils facing bankruptcy, involving major cost cutting in the provision of special education needs and disability support.
Independently of the Alabama Education Association, Montgomery teachers waged a courageous struggle to save lives. The lessons of this struggle remain of critical significance as teachers face a fourth year of the COVID-19 pandemic.