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'Super union' of teachers on the cards after talks between NUT and ATL Teachers' 'super-union' a possibility as NUT and ATL discuss collaboration
(35 minutes later)
A “super union” of more than 450,000 teachers could be created after the National Union of Teachers and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers revealed that talks over “joint working” were taking place between the two unions. A “super-union” of more than 450,000 teachers could be created after the National Union of Teachers and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers revealed that talks over “joint working” were taking place between the two unions.
Delegates at the NUT’s annual conference in Harrogate over Easter were told of progress in preliminary discussions, which could result in the ATL’s 124,000 members combining with the NUT’s 330,000 members in taking action.Delegates at the NUT’s annual conference in Harrogate over Easter were told of progress in preliminary discussions, which could result in the ATL’s 124,000 members combining with the NUT’s 330,000 members in taking action.
The move would be a shot in the arm for the ultimate prospect of one national teaching union if NASUWT, the other major union, could be enticed to cooperate in joint activity. The move would bring the prospect of one national teaching union closer if NASUWT, the other major union, was also prepared to cooperate in joint activity.
“The NUT was very pleased to have held a joint conference with ATL in February, where we discussed how teachers could get a stronger voice by working more closely together. We have worked very closely with ATL and other unions in recent talks with government and continue to believe that a single teachers’ union is in the interests of the profession,” Christine Blower, the NUT’s general secretary said. Christine Blower, the NUT’s general secretary, said: “The NUT was very pleased to have held a joint conference with ATL in February, where we discussed how teachers could get a stronger voice by working more closely together.
“Although there are no formal talks taking place with any teachers’ union at the moment, we continue to be prepared to engage with any union who seeks such discussions.” “We have worked very closely with ATL and other unions in recent talks with government and continue to believe that a single teachers’ union is in the interests of the profession..
Mary Bousted, general secretary of the ATL, said: “ATL is not in formal merger talks with the NUT. We’ve been working with the NUT, among other unions, on issues which matter most to our members.” “Although there are no formal talks taking place with any teachers’ union at the moment, we continue to be prepared to engage with any union who seeks such discussions,” said Blower.
Mary Bousted, ATL general secretary, said: “ATL is not in formal merger talks with the NUT. We’ve been working with the NUT, among other unions, on issues which matter most to our members.”
Peter Pendle, the ATL’s deputy general secretary, addressed the NUT conference in Harrogate and told a fringe meeting on professional unity, alongside his NUT counterparts: “With one teachers’ union, we’d be so powerful we would rarely need to strike.”Peter Pendle, the ATL’s deputy general secretary, addressed the NUT conference in Harrogate and told a fringe meeting on professional unity, alongside his NUT counterparts: “With one teachers’ union, we’d be so powerful we would rarely need to strike.”
The NUT held a closed-doors discussion among delegates about the moves on Monday, with some members fearing any form of merger could dilute the NUT’s more progressive political approach.The NUT held a closed-doors discussion among delegates about the moves on Monday, with some members fearing any form of merger could dilute the NUT’s more progressive political approach.
The NUT and ATL already agree on many policies such as the need to reform Ofsted, and both are affiliated with the Trades Union Congress. The NUT’s membership is particularly strong in primary schools, while the ATL includes a substantial number of teachers in colleges and independent schools, as well as branches in Scotland and Northern Ireland where the NUT does not organise. The NUT and ATL already agree on many policies, such as the need to reform Ofsted, and both are affiliated with the Trades Union Congress. The NUT’s membership is particularly strong in primary schools, while the ATL’s members include a substantial number of teachers in colleges and independent schools, as well as branches in Scotland and Northern Ireland where the NUT does not organise.
Any eventual merger would end a long-running battle between the NUT and NASUWT over membership, with the NUT winning the latest round after the Advertising Standards Authority ruled in its favour, and barred NASUWT from claiming to be “the largest teachers’ union in the UK” in advertising.Any eventual merger would end a long-running battle between the NUT and NASUWT over membership, with the NUT winning the latest round after the Advertising Standards Authority ruled in its favour, and barred NASUWT from claiming to be “the largest teachers’ union in the UK” in advertising.
Discussions over a combined union in England have taken place on and off for many years, with the Educational Institute of Scotland often held up as a model of a powerful, dominating national teaching union.Discussions over a combined union in England have taken place on and off for many years, with the Educational Institute of Scotland often held up as a model of a powerful, dominating national teaching union.
The NUT is marginally the elder partner, having been founded in 1870 as the National Union of Elementary Teachers in England and Wales. In 1888 it changed its name to the National Union of Teachers. The NUT is the elder partner, having been founded in 1870 as the National Union of Elementary Teachers in England and Wales. In 1888 it changed its name to the National Union of Teachers.
The history of the ATL goes back to 1884 when the Association of Assistant Mistresses was formed, and later merged to form the Assistant Masters and Mistresses Association. The union was renamed as ATL in 1993.The history of the ATL goes back to 1884 when the Association of Assistant Mistresses was formed, and later merged to form the Assistant Masters and Mistresses Association. The union was renamed as ATL in 1993.