Teaching union boss Bryan to step down

Bryan Beckingham . . . “a privilege to serve”

NUT secretary fears ‘break-up’ of education

BRYAN Beckingham is retiring as secretary of Oldham National Union of Teachers (NUT) after nearly 15 years.

The former maths teacher will attend his last annual meeting in the post at the City Learning Centre, Chadderton, next Tuesday.

The 64-year-old grandfather was a teacher for several years before becoming a journalist with the socialist paper Militant.

He then returned to the classroom and went on to work at Royton and Crompton School for 15 years before retiring four years ago.

The NUT has around 1,250 serving members in Oldham and Mr Beckingham said: “It has been a privilege to serve the Oldham NUT as secretary

“The branch is left in a healthy state. Membership has risen and we are the largest union in teaching in Oldham, representing about half of serving teachers.”

During his time as secretary, Mr Beckingham has seen the branch campaign against issues such as SATs and academies, as well as taking part in the national pay strike in 2008 and local pay disputes.

In the wake of the town’s riots in 2001, it also helped to initiate Oldham Campaign Against Racism and Fascism, which campaigned against the BNP.

Mr Beckingham, who lives in Blackrod, will stay in post until the summer to continue his work to protect the rights of members transferring into Oldham’s academies.

He will remain as a retired member of the union and do voluntary work for the branch as recruitment officer.

“Education is becoming increasingly broken up so that a few years hence we will all wake up to see that we no longer have a state education service open to all, free to all, that is non-selective and serves its purpose,” he added.

“The increasing domination of private providers and market-driven initiatives will be the same as the financial sector — a disaster waiting to happen — and our union will be at the forefront of defending education and the pay and conditions of our members.”

Mr Beckingham jobshares with Tony Harrison who will continue as secretary.

Gill Goodwen, NUT national vice-president, is guest speaker at Tuesday’s meeting, which starts at 4.30pm.