Programme

20-21 September

Manchester Mercure Hotel

Saturday, 20 September

10:00 - 10:30

Refreshments and registration

Foyer

10:30 - 11:00

Welcome to Manchester

International Suite

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester

11:00 - 12:00

Our strategy for change

International Suite

An outline of the challenges we face as educators and our strategy as a union to address them, plus stories from reps who have led inspiring struggles in workplaces over the past year.

Speakers:

  • Daniel Kebede, General secretary
  • Sally Ann-McGill, lead MAT rep’ for Star Academies
  • Sarah-Louise Devlin and Daniel Yamoah-Asare, workplace reps, UCL academy

Chair:

  • Sarah Kilpatrick, National president (Note: Sarah will chair all sessions in the International Suite)

12:00 - 13:30

Core Workshop 1 – Workplace bargaining

Various rooms – see participants list

This workshop provides an overview of how we win positive change in every workplace, your role as a rep in helping make this happen, and opportunities to develop your plan for the year ahead with other reps.

13:30 - 14:30

Lunch

Restaurant

14:30 - 16:10

Elective workshop sign up

Each delegate will attend two workshops during this part of the conference. Choose the workshops you want to attend using this form.

Make sure to do this by Monday September 15, 12noon.

16:10 - 16:40

Break

International Suite

16:40 - 17:30

Workers rising – struggles from across the movement

International Suite

Workers across the country are fighting back for better terms and conditions. Hear from the following:

  • Emma Runswick, Deputy chair of Council, British Medical Association Emma is a resident doctor in mental health and deputy chair of the BMA, the union and professional association for doctors. Doctors are currently leading the fight for pay restoration alongside disputes across 4 nations on job security and progression, contracts, and bringing back the family doctor to general practice.
  • Mike Masters, UNITE rep, Perry Barr depot, Birmingham Mike is a rep helping to build the Birmingham bin strike which has been running since March of this year, taking an inspiring stand against downgrading and huge pay cuts
  • James Robinson, Unison rep, Livv Housing Group James has been working tirelessly with Unison and Unite members working for Livv Housing Group during a dispute over below inflation pay rises. He tells a story of cross union working, solidarity and community organising in the face of union busting tactics from the employer.

17:30

End

18:30 - 20:30

Dinner

International Suite

20:30

Film Screening - The Old Oak

Park Suite

An inspiring film, written by Paul Laverty and directed by Ken Loach, that sees a north east landlord struggling to hold onto his pub and keep it as the one remaining public space where people can meet in the town amid tensions arising when Syrian refugees are placed there.

Sunday, 21 September

07:00 - 09:00

Breakfast

Restaurant

09:00 - 10:15

How inequality harms education

International Suite

In this session we will look at the devastating impact that inequality has on pupils, education workers and the school system as a whole. And we’ll consider what the alternative could look like.

With:

  • Diane Reay, Professor of education, Cambridge University, author of Miseducation: Inequality, Education and the Working Classes

10:15 - 11:30

Core Workshop 2 – Stop school cuts

Various rooms – see participants list

A practical workshop on how you can help take forward our urgent campaign on school funding in your workplace and community. We’ll look at campaign tactics and provide you with the resources you need.

11:30 - 12:00

Break

International Suite

12:00 - 13:00

Fighting the Far Right

International Suite

The far right are out to attack education, divide communities and undermine the values of equality and inclusion that we stand for. And far right discourse has become increasingly mainstream in our politics and media. This session looks at how we fight back.

With:

  • Daniel Kebede, General secretary (TBC)
  • Debs Gwynn, Halton district
  • Ameen Hadi, Stand Up to Racism

13:00

Packed lunch, networking and close

International Suite

Main sessions of conference close. Collect a packed lunch and leave at your leisure – you are welcome to remain in the hotel for networking. There will also be a q+a on support staff organising in the Senate Room.

Scan or click the qr code to join our whatsapp group.

Resources