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Observer leads with @Keir_Starmer demanding that PM delivers on promise of all children back at school, no ifs, no buts etc. I& #39;m a retired primary school teacher who taught for 23 years in inner London, (NUT rep for most of those) + I know the unions are right to be worried.
My hardest job as union rep was getting teachers too ill to teach to take time off to recover. In 23 years I never met a teacher who was not committed first and foremost to welfare and safety of children. Shocking that @Keir_Starmer shows little interest in unions H&S concerns.
My union (NEU) of which, though retired, I& #39;m still a branch committee member, has led the way with demands on government for the benefit of children, teachers and their families and has a plan. Their five tests have not been met. @RLong_Bailey backed these, but Starmer does not.
He has not challenged Govt& #39;s reckless prioritisation of the economy over the health of the population. We all want the economy to be healthier but not at *any* cost. Instead of working with school staff and school leaders on this matter, he has followed the Tory govt& #39;s framing.
After Starmer became leader, Labour CLPs were banned from holding decision-making meetings. That has now been lifted under pressure. One of the 1st resolutions through our CLP called on Labour to adopt a Zero-COVID strategy instead of the govt& #39;s approach of "managing" the virus.
"No ifs, no buts, no equivocation" on school return exposes school staff, pupils, and all in their homes, to a virus that is still rampant. It is not too late for Labour to back union plans for safe schools, blended learning etc, and simultaneously back a Zero-COVID strategy.
