Delegates at the NASUWT’s Annual Conference passed a motion calling for greater support for teachers from under-represented groups, including LGBT teachers, from discrimination and victimisation in the workplace.
This was after they heard that redundancy, competency and disciplinary procedures are being systematically abused by employers to single out teachers in so-called minority groups.
Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT (pictured), said:
“All the evidence shows that it is women and minority groups in society that are bearing the brunt of the Government’s austerity measures, exposing as nonsense claims that ‘we are all in this together’.
“This Government has declared war on ordinary workers. It is ripping up employment laws and encouraging a culture of macho management.
“As a result, employers feel they have a licence to discriminate. Harassment and victimisation is increasing in schools; competency, disciplinary and redundancy procedures are being misused.
“Talented teachers are having their careers and lives wrecked and children and young people are losing the benefits of their expertise.”
The passing of the motion commits the NASUWT to monitoring and reporting on the incidence of workplace discrimination, providing union reps with training and guidance to help them support teachers who are facing this kind of victimisation and educate members about their right not to be discriminated against in the workplace.
The NASUWT also released the findings of a survey into the cyberbullying of teachers by pupils and parents during Annual Conference.
More than 1,500 teachers responded to the survey in a four day period and the responses revealed a catalogue of abuse, threats and allegations being made about teachers using sites such as Facebook and ratemyteachers.com.
Some of the abuse was homophobic, with teachers being subjected to abuse and taunts on the basis of their actual (or perceived) sexuality.
The NASUWT says it will be using the findings of the survey to press for greater action to protect teachers from online abuse and is calling for schools to take this problem more seriously.