How planned education ‘super union’ could work

The ATL and NUT unions will vote tomorrow on whether to merge – here’s what you need to know
4th November 2016, 12:00am
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How planned education ‘super union’ could work

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A new education “super union” could move a step closer tomorrow at conferences being held by the NUT and ATL teaching unions. Here we examine what a new amalgamated organisation could look like.

What exactly is happening on Saturday?

The two unions are hosting separate special conferences in London to decide whether to push ahead with plans to create a new union for education professionals. If NUT and ATL delegates support the proposals, their members will be balloted separately in the spring on the formation of the “National Education Union”.

What will the union look like if it does go ahead?

With a combined membership of nearly half a million teachers, support staff, lecturers and leaders, it would be the largest education union and the fourth largest union in the UK.

Documents for the conference seen by TES reveal that key objectives of the union include: influencing education policy through lobbying and promoting research, recruiting workplace representatives, and providing a range of continual professional development (CPD).

Why does anything need to change?

It is hoped that the new union will give the profession a stronger voice with government and employers following restrictions imposed on their ability to take industrial action by the new Trade Union Act.

The huge growth of academies has made it increasingly difficult for unions to recruit reps. Not only do many more separate deals have to be negotiated but, according to Hank Roberts - an executive member of ATL and a campaigner for professional unity, teachers are more fearful of losing their jobs if they speak out.

When could all this happen?

If it is voted through, a transitional period will take place from spring 2017 where both organisations will effectively carry on as they were - while reps from the two unions are encouraged to meet regularly and work together.

By January 2019 - or an earlier date agreed by the unions - the rules and executive of the new union will come into effect.

How will the union work?

To provide continuity from the transitional period into the new union, the general secretaries of the ATL and NUT, Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney, will serve as joint leaders. There will also be an ATL and NUT section - which both leaders will oversee.

It is understood that the ATL’s Dr Bousted will be more involved with education policy, while the NUT’s Mr Courtney will focus on industrial strategy. By September 2023, one general secretary would be in place.

Who will be able to join?

Teachers, support staff, leaders and lecturers will be able to sign up for standard membership.

There will also be sector specific sections for support staff, independent schools, and post-16 establishments who will each have a seat on the executive. This should appeal to ATL members, as the union already has many support staff and teachers working in the independent sector.

Supply teachers, self-employed teachers and lecturers who have worked within the last six months can also become members. But they will not have a designated seat on the executive.

What are the benefits for members?

Both general secretaries believe that significant issues - such as excessive workload - would be tackled more effectively under one larger union.

It would mean more resources, money and representation, according to Mr Roberts. The change could also reduce the money spent on competitive recruitment and improve the chance of having a local rep in school. “It will be bigger, have more money and it will make us more powerful with the government and the local employers,” Mr Roberts said.

Are there any concerns from members?

It has long been the more left-leaning NUT’s policy that a single union for all teachers would best represent the profession - but the more moderate ATL has been more cautious.

At the ATL’s annual conference earlier this year, some members were concerned that they would lose their high quality CPD provision. The ATL also rarely takes industrial action and some fear a new union would mean more strikes.

But there are also NUT amendments that could delay or scupper the whole deal if they are passed tomorrow.

What would a new union mean for strikes?

The new Trade Union Act, passed in May, will come into effect at the end of this year and make future industrial action harder. Education unions will have to secure at least 50 per cent turnout of members in a ballot, and then 40 per cent will have to say yes.

Under the plans for the new union, it would respond by introducing its own extra requirement - that an indicative ballot would have to be held before any full ballot.

Why is the NASUWT not involved?

If approved, other education unions will be encouraged to join. But NASUWT general secretary Chris Keates said earlier this year that she thought it was better for ministers to receive six letters from unions on issues such as pay than one letter with six signatures.

The union leader told TES: “I think most of our members would want us actually not to be focusing on internal things but actually focusing on how we are going to defend them in the face of government policies which are clearly having a bad impact.”

Has anything like this been tried before?

Fourteen years ago, merger plans between the three big teacher unions stalled when the NASUWT rejected general secretary Eamonn O’Kane’s vision for a single classroom union.

A TES poll had shown that a majority of teachers in each of the three unions supported a merger - but delegates at the NASUWT conference proved less open to the idea and Mr O’Kane suffered an embarrassing defeat.

@Eleanor_Busby

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