Education ‘super union’ step closer as ATL and NUT vote to ballot members

New union could be launched next year, as leader hails ‘historic day’ for the profession
5th November 2016, 3:47pm

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Education ‘super union’ step closer as ATL and NUT vote to ballot members

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A new ‘super union’ for education professionals is one step closer after the NUT and ATL today voted to ballot members over merger. 

At two separate conferences held by the teaching unions today, delegates pushed ahead with plans for the creation of a new union. 

This decision will now be put to the members of both unions for approval in ballots to be held in the spring term.

If it goes ahead, the new union, which would be called the National Education Union, would launch in September next year. 

It would become the largest education union, with approaching half a million members, and the fourth largest union in the TUC.

At the special conferences in London today delegates welcomed the progress made on the amalgamation of the two unions. 

Kevin Courtney, general secretary of the NUT, said: “This is an historic day for teacher trade unionism. The NUT has long been an advocate of professional unity and today’s decision by both NUT and ATL delegates takes it another step forward.

“Over the past decade the education landscape has seen unprecedented change, most of which has had a detrimental effect on both school staff and pupils.

“If we are to protect our education system effectively the profession needs to be speaking with one voice. The decision taken today by NUT and ATL delegates to ballot members on the question of forming a new union is the right one.”

Mary Bousted, ATL general secretary, said: “A new union will bring together the best elements of ATL and NUT to give a louder voice to education professionals when speaking out against poor government policy and bad employment practices.

“The new union will support every member in maintained or independent schools and colleges - teachers, lecturers, support staff, leaders - to come together to make their working lives better, letting them concentrate on their main purpose, to educate children and young people.”

If approved by both ATL and NUT members in separate ballots, the new union will start a transitional phase from September 2017 until January 2019 with separate ATL and NUT sections and a joint executive committee and joint general secretaries.

National rules for the new union would come into effect on 1 January 2019 with a new executive elected and the integration of ATL and the NUT would have separate sections.

In the new union, a ballot for industrial action could only take place after an indicative survey of members which showed a ballot was likely to be successful and meet industrial action laws.

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