Teachers are virtually unanimous in their opposition to the privatisation of schools via city academies. At the Association of Teachers and Lecturers’ conference last year, I successfully moved an amendment that expressed grave concern about them. The conferences of the National Union of Teachers and the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers were also against.

The public is also against the privatisation of schools. But is this enough? Despite the disaster of Railtrack and now the looming problems of air traffic control and the London underground, the Government is not deflected.

To have any chance of saving state education, maximum unity of teachers will be needed. Professional Unity 2000 has been leading the campaign for one teachers’ union and success is now in sight. We must end the foolish multiplicity of unions in education that only helps the Government’s privatisation plans.

Hank Roberts
Organising secretary,
Professional Unity 2000
Copland Community School,
Wembley,
Middlesexnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;