Elect Martin Powell-Davies: 

Defending Teachers, Defending Education

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Programme for teachers

A Teacher Making A Stand For Teachers

The Candidate With A Clear Programme To Defend Teachers 

A Teachers’ Leader On A Teacher’s Salary

MARTIN POWELL-DAVIES

Secretary of Lewisham NUT

Martin’s consistent work over a decade has helped build Lewisham NUT into a strong, campaigning NUT Association. Week in, week out, he has been helping colleagues to stand up to the pressures piled onto teachers.

Secretary of Lewisham Joint Teacher Unions

Martin has consistently worked alongside local colleagues on the National Executives of the NASUWT and ATL to co-ordinate our work and campaigns, helping to encourage joint strike action with the NAS over London Allowances.

Secondary teacher since 1986

Unlike his three opponents, Martin is still a classroom teacher, experiencing SATs, OFSTED, excessive workload - and all the other pressures we face - at first hand.

Prominent Campaigner

Martin has played a key part in many local and national Union campaigns. He was Chair of School Teachers Opposed to Performance Pay, which fought to build a serious national opposition to PRP, unlike the NUT leadership.

Speaking up for teachers

Martin has long experience of speaking out for teachers on national radio and TV, at Union meetings and Conferences and to the public.

Father of four primary children

As a parent, Martin is also only too aware of the harm being inflicted by SATs, cuts, selection and the Government’s “Blue Skies” plans for “teaching-on-the-cheap” .

But the NUT leadership - including John Bangs and Steve Sinnott - have to share much of the responsibility for failing to stand up to the relentless attacks on teachers and education. We need a General Secretary who we can trust to follow up words with the action needed to defend teachers. Martin can provide that leadership.

As both Association Secretary and as a classroom teacher, Martin is in touch with the everyday pressures confronting teachers – and he pledges to remain so. He would remain on the pay of a classroom teacher, using the rest of the present General Secretary salary to support education and trade union campaigns. He will make it a priority to visit schools and Union meetings.

Martin is the candidate who has a clear programme that can change the NUT. He is an experienced organiser with the abilities to lead our Union. As a socialist and trade unionist, Martin has played a major role in many campaigns, both inside and outside the Union.

His election would give voice to the discontent of ordinary teachers. His leadership would give NUT members the confidence to stand together in the interests of teachers and education.