Are you joining the new super-union?

[noblegiraffe]

I was a bit surprised to hear the the ATL (traditionally non-striking) have merged with the NUT (traditionally militant), but obviously joining the unions up to have a common voice and increased power makes sense.

I'm NASUWT, so haven't heard much about the new union, does anyone know what the ethos will be? Any NAS members considering switching unions?

[lavenderandrose]

I'm no longer a member of a teaching union, but I feel it can only be a positive move, although how positive, I'm not sure.

[RandomDent]

I'm NUT and considering switching out, but that's more because of local issues. I'd prefer a union that was just teachers, but I'm clearly in the minority.

[Janek]

Atl and nut are just teachers, aren't they?

[RandomDent]

ATL represent support staff too.

[Janek]

I did not know that! Thing is, nowadays support staff do teach - certainly HLTAs, but also TAs, so perhaps they need to be in the teaching union...

[QueenieGoldstein]

I'm watching with interest, I'm NAS but if the NEU prove to be a stronger voice for teachers then I will consider switching.

[MaisyPops]

Im NASUWT but would consider joining the merged union.
Ive always been half way between NUT and ATL but would err more towards NUT than ATL if i had to choose.

[walruswhiskers]

I'm ATL. voted in favour of the merge and will join. I do have concerns - I worry about strikes as I feel they turn public opinion against teachers - but on the whole a stronger Union can only be a good thing. Lots of respect for Mary Bousted too - if she has a strong role in the new union I'll be pleased.

[MrsBartlettforthewin]

I'm currently NUT but voted to merge. Will I just automatically be in the new union or will they send me new papers to join it?

[RidiculousVehicle]

I voted against the merger, mainly due to the enormous number of communications they sent me urging me to vote for it. There was no balance at all. I actively chose ATL because they seemed to be less militant than the other unions and covered both state and independent staff, so I'm not very impressed about it at all.

[goingmadinthecountry]

I'm in a union because I have to be - ATL. Made a deliberate choice not to join NUT, though was a member in a previous life in secondary school - common sense was to join the same union as others.

When I started teaching I was a member of AMMA, predecessor to ATL I think. Will stick with it for now and see what happens.

[TheFallenMadonna]

I changed from NUT to ATL, so not thrilled about the merger.

[RevealTheHiddenBeach]

I'm NUT and voted yes. Im delighted that we will be in the same union as ta's, really excited about the merger.

To a pp - you will be moved across automatically but not until 2019. From next year onwards anyone new joins the new NEU, and then nut and atl members will be merged in later. If you don't want to be in at that point, then you transfer out to a different one/leave altogether.

I did feel that I was sent too much crap about the vote. I didn't need a set of stickers!

[doublesnap]

I joined ATL because they tend not to strike so I'm not that keen. Time will tell though.

[BraCrumble]

I'm in the NUT and considering swapping to the NASUWT. Partly because our union leader in school is in LOVE with Jeremy Corbyn and will not stop going on about it. Not the best reason :p

A big part of why they were telling me they were merging was to represent support staff (which I am in favour of - as people said above, they do a lot of teaching. TAs aren't just there to wash paintbrushes and do trimming anymore!), but they could have done that without merging so it seems a bit irrelevant.

I was against the merger as I think although a strong union is important it is also important to have a choice of union, and many people would prefer to have the choice of the more moderate ATL.

[noblegiraffe]

I don't know, I think ultimately all three main unions should merge and present a united front to the government. What's happening in education is unacceptable, but I've not seen any strong union voice on budget cuts, the mess of the new GCSEs, the waste of money on free schools and grammars and so on.

It seems a few years ago there was action and nothing happened so now people are just quitting teaching instead.

[70ontheinside]

I am ATL and voted against the merger. I don't want to be in NEU, but where can I go? Just had a look around and found Voice, of which I have never heard before. Any experiences?