Annual Conference even for those who have been attending for as long as I have always provides an interesting way to spend part of the Easter break. This conference, which of course is the supreme decision making body of the Union was no exception. It was also characterised by its good level of debate with spoken contributions from 3 members of the Barnsley delegation and a good feeling of shared purpose and unanimity amongst the delegates from all over England and Wales. It was interesting that the once dominant grouping on the NEC which is now in a minority at Conference as well resorted to suggestions that Conference should be 'reformed' in some way since this group no longer prevail in their arguments as the Union has moved on. Doing away with Annual Conference just because you no longer win the votes of the majority of delegates is not the way forward for a democratic Union. Other delegates will cover areas that they felt particularly important and I will restrict myself to Pensions, The International work of the Union in Palestine and asbestos.

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  There was a good debate on teachers' occupational pensions and also recognition that there will be further efforts to attack and erode our pensions in the near future. All members appreciate that pension is deferred pay and far from being 'gold plated,' as some would suggest, are the result of substantial contributions by individual teachers throughout their teaching careers. Few teachers now have the energy and opportunity to reach 40 years service which would provide a full pension so many retire without reaching this level. The average pension for a teacher is well under £9,500 and that figure in itself does not present a full picture. Many retired teachers actually receive  much lower pensions, resulting from shorter service ( women taking family breaks) or lower pay. It certainly does not get anywhere near the levels of certain greedy  bankers who are responsible for the current financial mess they have caused.  Conference unanimously passed a motion on pensions that agreed;
  
  to commit the Union to the strongest possible defence of Teachers'  pensions
  to re-affirm the Union's support for good quality, affordable, final salary occupational pensions for teachers
  to resist and deplore the recent pronouncements from some private sector employers who are seeking to use the recession to attack public sector pensions
  to give the highest priority in constructing co-ordinated efforts to amongst other public sector unions to campaign for our pensions with ballots for industrtial action