SUPPLY teachers vowed at the weekend they won’t be used as scabs to undermine their permanent colleagues’ strikes in a blow to Tory plans to help bosses break pickets.
The government’s vicious Trade Union Bill will allow employers to hire temporary agency workers to defeat strike action by their own staff.
Privatisation of public services, and shocking understaffing in services including the NHS and education, have led to a dramatic increase of agency staff.
A past confrontation permanently shaped the methods the state will use to protect employers against any claims by their employees, writes MATT WRACK, but unions are readying to face the challenge
Our members face serious violence, crumbling workplaces and exposure to dangerous drugs — it is outrageous we still cannot legally use our industrial muscle to fight back and defend ourselves, writes STEVE GILLAN
MATT WRACK issues a clarion call for a rejuvenation of public services for the sake of our communities and our young people
With 170,000 children living in poverty in north-east England and teachers leaving in droves over 20 per cent real-terms pay cuts since 2010, all while private companies siphon off billions, it is time to unite and fight for education, writes MATT WRACK


