Patrick Murphy, a Workers' Liberty member who represents West Yorkshire on the National Union of Teachers national executive, writes:
"At the 12 January executive I put proposals for the NUT to, firstly, clearly reject the Heads of Agreement, and, secondly, commit to convening a meeting of unions rejecting the pensions deal and propose co-ordinated days of action in February and March. These proposals were defeated. The vote was 26 to 13.
"The union has agreed to convene a meeting of unions who haven't signed up to consider action but without a mandate to propose a specific date or period."
The NUT executive is mostly divided between the right-wing "Broad Left" group, who are now in a narrow minority, and two left-wing groups, the Socialist Teachers' Alliance and Campaign for a Democratic Fighting Union, which have a very small majority. This left split on supporting Patrick's proposals, allowing the right wing to carry the day.
Those voting in favour of Patrick's proposals were Patrick himself, two independents John Dalton and John Holmes, and the following left-wingers: Martin Powell Davies (Socialist Party), Roger King, Ian Leaver, Julie Lyon Taylor, Nick Grant (Socialist Workers Party), Chris Blakey (SWP), Anne Lemon (SWP), Barry Frost, Betty Joseph and Simon Jones.
Left-wingers who voted with the right included CDFU members Ian Murch, Tony Tonks, Helen Andrews, Hazel Danson; and STA members Dave Harvey and Alex Kenny.
Patrick will post a more detailed report and some analysis soon.