A new union for education professionals and their learners
The NUT and ATL have a vision for education which enables learners to understand and
contribute to wider society and which supports and improves the working lives of education
professionals. And so given the unprecedented challenges facing education, the NUT and ATL
have been talking about combining our resources and strengthening our voice on matters such
as: campaigning to protect education for children, young people and adults; delivering first rate
case work for members; and negotiating pay and conditions with more and more employers.
Our two unions are financially secure with growing memberships – the NUT is the largest
teachers’ union in the UK and ATL has strong numbers of teachers, lecturers, support staff and
other education professionals. Together we represent the majority of all teachers and provide a
powerful voice for education professionals.
As we move towards creating a new union, we know you have many questions so we
encourage you to talk to us, your local representatives and your Executive members.
NUT General Secretary
What’s the vision for a new union?
Given the current challenges in education, a
new union with combined resources aims to
give its members: excellent advice, support
and representation; learning and development
opportunities; and a stronger voice in local
and national negotiations and campaigns.
A new union will not replicate what already
exists. It is a chance for ATL and the NUT to
work as equal partners to build on what works
well within ATL and the NUT and within other
unions. The NUT is the largest teachers’ union
in state schools in England and Wales while
ATL has influence in every sector and role
across the UK’s education workforce.
A new union will be neither ATL nor the NUT.
This is a great opportunity to create a union
ready to meet the current challenges and able
to speak with authority as the voice of
education professionals.
Who will join the new union?
ATL and the NUT support the same types of
members in England and Wales including
ATL General Secretary
leaders and managers, and independent and
sixth form sectors. ATL also supports lecturers
and leaders in FE and HE, as well as support
staff across every sector. ATL also organises in
Scotland and Northern Ireland. A new union
will offer membership and a democratic voice
to every existing membership category.
What will it cost to join?
At the point when we start operating as a new
union, no ATL or NUT member will pay a
higher subs rate than they were paying before
that date.
Which union should I join now?
You should join the union which you feel best
meets your needs. After all, a new union
might not come about. You can join both the
NUT and ATL if you wish but, at this point in
the process, we don’t offer joint membership.
How will the NUT and ATL reconcile their
different approaches?
The NUT and ATL have very similar policies
and already work closely together in talks
with the Government. We both believe that
dialogue and debate is crucial with industrial
action a last resort. The NUT’s industrial
strategy has, in recent years, included action
short of strike action backed by occasional
regional and national strikes. ATL members
have actively pursued strategies to defend
members pay and conditions including taking
industrial action on a local and regional basis.
A new union will research and reflect the
wishes of the wider membership on how to
make their voices heard, which does not rule
out national ballots for action, but does mean
ballots for action are not the first line of
defence.
What’s the progress so far?
At separate special conferences on 5
November, ATL and NUT delegates voted in
favour of balloting the wider membership on
whether to create a new union or not. These
conferences were held after two years of
informal then formal talks between the unions,
conducted by the Joint Officer Group whose
members reported back to their Executive
Committees, district and branches and annual
conferences in 2015 and 2016 on the progress
of talks and proposed structures, rules and
timeframes.
What are the next steps?
During spring 2017, eligible members of ATL
and the NUT will be balloted separately over
whether they wish to create a new union. YES
votes will lead to a new union – the National
Education Union - forming on 1 September
2017 with a transition period until
amalgamation is complete on 1 January 2019.
What happens if ATL and/or NUT
members decide they don’t want a
new union?
We have been working closely with members
at every level to understand what they
expect and need from a new union. ATL and
NUT members will be balloted separately
but concurrently about moving into a
new union. If either or both memberships
say NO, then the new union
does not continue.
Who will be the general secretary of a
new union?
After a transitional period, the new union
will have joint general secretaries for
five years.
What’s the impact of a new union on
members in terms of support?
Even by consolidating our current resources,
a new union gives us the chance to deliver
even better support for our members:
case work; policy development; campaigns
and lobbying; and our CPD offer.
In terms of facilities time, ATL and the NUT
have agreed that during the transition
period, local ATL and NUT reps will retain
existing and separate facility time and,
after the transition period, that facility time
will be allocated in line with existing ratios
of ATL and NUT facility time. All existing
recognition agreements will be inherited
by a new union, including, for instance,
those that ATL and AMiE have with
independent schools and FE colleges.