Join the London March Against the Cuts on Saturday!

So teachers are meant to be grateful that education budgets have 'only' been cut by 3.4%! That is just one indication of the depth of the spending cuts announced by the Government yesterday.

The facts behind the 'spin' are that schools spending - including the pupil premium - will grow by just 0.1% per year in real-terms (or 0.4% in total). However, total pupil numbers will increase by an average of 0.7% per year so that the total schools spending per pupil will be cut in real-terms by 0.6% per year (total of 2¼%). To make up the overall 3.4% cut, other central services and grants will also be badly hit.

With 1/2 a million public sector jobs to go - plus a similar amount to follow from the private sector - along with cuts to benefits and further pay cuts to pay for pensions, these cuts are an attack on all of us.

However, the Lobby of Parliament on Tuesday and the lively march to Downing Street on Wednesday shows that trade unionists, students and community campaigns are starting to get organised (at last!)

On Saturday, teachers have another chance to show their anger against these cuts and to march with other trade unions - including striking fire-fighters - on the London demonstration backed by PCS, RMT, FBU, CWU, FBU, UCU, - and now UNITE - as well as many NUT branches.

This is a real opportunity to build the joint trade union action that we all know is going to be vital in the months ahead.

Please urge your members to come to the march, assembling at 11am at Chalton Street, NW1 - nearest tube Euston on Saturday.

Come early if you can - just in case there is any disruption to the tubes as a result of any health and safety action owing to the fire-fighters' strike.

We march down Gower Street to finish at Bedford Square. For those who can't then get into the SERTUC Rally inside Congress House from midday, there will be an ongoing 'overspill' rally in Bedford Square. Matt Wrack of the FBU and Bob Crow of the RMT will be among the speakers in the square.

The national NUT banner will be on the march, and Christine Blower will be speaking at the SERTUC Rally in Congress House. There will be some NUT placards and flags to give out - but please bring your local banners too.