BRITAIN’S newest union leader is facing calls for the sack even before he has taken office because of his support for the creation of a new “super union” for teachers.

Eamonn O’Kane takes over as general secretary of the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers at its annual conference next week.

But he faces a baptism of fire as rebel delegates from across the country protest over his proposal for a merger with the National Union of Teachers and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers.

Mr O’Kane first floated the idea in a paper circulated to members in January but has even faced opposition from within the NASUWT’s national executive. Some have called for him to be sacked before taking office, others are suggesting he resign to avoid the embarrassment of a crushing defeat.

But Mr O’Kane is to call for a poll of the union’s 200,000 members. He will put the idea to its executive after the Scarborough conference.

He would not disclose his preferred date but said it could only take place after the issue had been “fully debated” by union branches. The poll would have no formal status, but would inform a special conference of members, that would have power to approve a merger.

His move came before the results of The TES’s own survey showing seven out of 10 teachers favour a single union. The incoming general secretary, the first NASUWT leader seriously to countenance unity, will have been heartened by its results, with 70 per cent of his members in favour.

But a paper written by 10 northern associations argues there is no real backing for the move from teachers. It warns that the ATL’s non-striking stance contrasts sharply with the approach of an NUT dominated by political activists.

The Trades Union Congress, to which all three unions are affiliated, backs unity. A TUC official has been given the job of bringing the unions together. The TUC believes one union would be far more effective.

It has already helped the three unions, and Welsh union UCAC, come to joint positions in negotiations on pay and conditions and workload and could broker any discussions on unity.

Unity will be the first motion to be debated at the NUT conference in Bournemouth tomorrow. Its executive welcomes the discussion initiated by Mr O’Kane.

An emergency motion to the NASUWT deplores the manner in which the debate has been handled.

Hank Roberts, the Brent teacher who has been pushing for unity for many years, and who last week won a seat on the NUT’s national executive for the first time, will speak at all three conferences.

It will be vital for Mr O’Kane to push ahead with the reform at the conference while there is still a majority of national officers in favour of the move.

NASUWT rules state proposals to dissolve the union may only be made by resolution of the national executive passed by a two-thirds majority and by local associations representing not less than half the membership. Dissolution would need the backing of two-thirds of members in a postal ballot.

There are no winding-up rules for the NUT. It would merely require a simple majority of the conference to vote for a rule change.

Leader, 18

Analysis, 22-23