Why an industrial union?
There's currently a plethora of trade union initials in the education sector: the NUT, NAS-UWT, NATFHE and AUT (now UCU), ATL, PAT, ATL for teaching and lecturing staff. Then there's UNISON, T&G, GMB, and others for support and ancillary workers, and all of these trade unions operate separately and sectionally, with members of one union all too often pitted against members of another.
Added to this is the idea of 'professionalism' which falsely sees teachers and lecturers as some kind of middle class elite who are somehow separate from their fellow non-teaching workers. The worst aspects of this kind of 'professional' thinking are indicated by some of the more partnership oriented education unions.
The upshot of all this division is, it's not uncomon to see workers from one union on a one-day strike, with other workers advised by their own unions to cross picket lines because their one-day strike takes place on a different day.
This kind of 'organisation' can only be of benefit to the management, but for education workers, it is a millstone around our necks.
Another set of initials?
No, the EWIU is not just another set of initials thrown into the education unions' alphabet soup. Our aim is to bring all education workers together, whatever your job or professional credentials, whether trade union member or not, into a fighting rank and file organisation. In the EWIU, the teacher, the classroom assistant, the cleaner, the caretaker, the admin worker and the cook all stand united as workers.
We stand together, fight together, and together we will win!
Education Workers' Industrial Organising Committee - Leics IWW
The EWIU, the education workers' union of the IWW, is now organising in schools, colleges and universities in Leicestershire.
Rather than a trade union for one of many jobs and professions in the education sector, the EWIU is an industrial union that unites all workers across education, whatever your job.
EWIU-IWW is for teachers, lecturers, trainers, classroom assistants, nursery staff, admin workers, caretakers, cleaners, porters, librarians, kitchen staff, students, technicians, ancillary staff and all other workers in education.
We have changed address!
Our new address is:
IWW
Unit 107
40 Halford Street
Leicester LE1 1TQ
Email: leics@iww.org.uk
SAVE LEICESTER ADULT EDUCATION COLLEGE!
The Adult Education College on Wellington Street is under serious attack. It's a sorry tale of privatisation and the destruction of adult education by stealth. Staff have been treated incredibly badly by management, with no consultation or even basic information, and with some staff being told to pack up and move at a moment's notice. Jobs are under threat.
The LAEC job branch of the IWW's education workers' union is spearheading the defence of the college, together with Leicester IWW, midlands region IWW and UCU members at the college. We call on all members of the public, users and students at the college, staff, all unions and community organisations to get involved with the campaign.
First step, sign the petition at www.ipetitions.com/petition/LAEC
Next step, get involved in the campaign, come to the public meeting, back the workers at LAEC and save the college from further destruction and privatisation. Please forward this to any other lists, websites, newsgroups, etc. Spread the message.
We can win this. The IWW spearheaded the campaign to save Crichton campus and we won that one. We can do it again!
An injury to one is an injury to all!
For more info, go to www.iww.org.uk
Save LAEC!
PUBLIC MEETING
7.00pm Weds 9 April
Secular Hall
75 Humberstone Gate
(opposite Sainsbury's)
