Staffordshire District covers members working in state funded schools in the geographical area of Staffordshire, or retired/independent/etc members who live in Staffordshire.
District meetings cover the democratic and financial aspects of the work of the NEU in Staffordshire.
Each summer, we host the District Annual General Meeting, where we vote on officer roles and delegations that members have been nominated for, we accept the financial statements for the current academic year and make financial decisions for the next academic year.
The District AGM forms part of our Big Weekend event, with a meal for members, social time and activist training the following morning.
Below are the notes of the decisions made during the District AGM.
Note these notes were AI generated from the meeting transcript, but have been checked for accuracy.
Key Outcomes
The district held its annual general meeting, completing officer elections, financial approvals, and a series of donation/affiliation votes.
Key financial position stands at ~£103k total across accounts.
Ballot engagement reached 44.2% — the highest ever — but remains below the 50% threshold required for industrial action.
Multiple donations and affiliations were approved, and local government reorganisation was flagged as a significant structural challenge ahead.
Decisions Made
Officer Roles (confirmed/unchanged):
- District Secretary: Rebecca & Keely
- Assistant Secretary: Steve, Deborah, Kirsty
- Treasurer: Carol (£2,000 honorarium)
- Assistant Treasurer: Jason (£500 honorarium)
- Equalities Officers: Jo (Women Members), Sian (Disabled Members), Dieko (Black Members), Steve (LGBT+ Members)
- Other officer roles
- Amy (new professionals &workers)
- Sian (Independent)
- Anne (Retired)
- Kirsty (Primary)
- Steve (Secondary)
- Sian(SEND)
- Deb (Well-being & Social Secretary)
- Kirsty (Social media & Press)
- Linda (International)
Committee Members (in addition to the above): Vic & Hannah
West Midlands Regional Council Delegates: Steve, Rebecca, Anne, Linda, Vic, Amy, Carole, Keely, Jason, Hannah
Financial Approvals
- Working from home allowance: £26/month per officer, continuing
- Local levy retained at 10%
- Treasurer emergency spending limit: ~£500;
- Officer events budget: £1,250 per officer
- NEU Trust Fund donation: £2,000 (continuing)
- Auditor payment approved for end of August £300
- Unity Bank Signatories: Carole, Jason, Steve, Vic
- Purchase of phone/laptop for new caseworkers
- Purchase of office equipment
Donations Approved
- Stop the War Coalition affiliation: £50–£100 annually
- Rohingya Muslim Centre UK: £500 (amended up from £200) to train teachers in refugee camps
- Palestine / Big Ride: funding to subsidise participants who cannot afford to take part
- Care for Calais: second delegation approved; any remaining budget donated if delegation does not proceed
- Schools of Sanctuary: £500 donation + agreement to organise a local training session
- Shape Staffordshire (SEND white paper campaign): £200 startup donation
- Ukraine educational supplies: £500 set aside for materials as directed by Mike Kearney
- Lichfield Refugee Aid: £100 for Refugee Week event
- Educators Against the Far Right conference (13 June, London): expenses funded for any member wishing to attend
- All existing affiliations continued unchanged
Pending Confirmation
- Public liability insurance: required for summer stalls; national policy no longer covers districts — in progress
- Summer event dates: 8–9 and 16 August — Steve to double-check (dates confirmed and added to events calendar)
Other Issues
- Local government reorganisation by 2028: Staffordshire branch likely splits into two; structure (one or two districts) still undecided
- Electronic ballot logistics: members using work emails must update union contact details — affects ~6,000 members
- Second Care for Calais delegation: logistics and timing to be arranged by Sian