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Original poster

Help please teachers! Which union?

27 replies

pugsandseals · 02/04/2010 21:00

I was reminded at INSET that I should really be a member of a teaching union which I hadn't even considered before!

So, which union do you use & why? There seems to be a huge amount of choice & I'm not quite sure where to start!

OP posts:
SleepingLion · 02/04/2010 21:02

I'm in the NAS; can't remember why I chose them when I started teaching but they have always provided the support I've needed (fortunately never more than telephone advice over maternity rights/part-time rights, etc).

clemette · 02/04/2010 21:07

The simplistic line is ATL are wet, the NUT are more militant and the NASUWT are somewhere in the middle.
My advice (ex-NAS rep) would be to join the union that has the biggest presence in your school, or at least has a rep!

Original poster
pugsandseals · 02/04/2010 21:43

That's a good thought clemette! I know my boss is with NASUWT so maybe that's who I should go for. I pressume they all provide the same protection for potential alligations etc?

OP posts:
Original poster
pugsandseals · 02/04/2010 21:43

Sorry, can't spell tonight1

OP posts:
Shaz10 · 02/04/2010 21:45

Agreed on choosing the one with the most teachers members in your school. Although that didn't work out well when I moved schools!

I'm in the NUT. I stay in it because it's for teachers only, I feel it's important.

TeamEdward · 02/04/2010 21:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mnistooaddictive · 03/04/2010 06:22

NUT has a conscience clause over striking and NASUWT doesn't. Go with the best rep in your school.

MmeBlueberry · 03/04/2010 06:27

The only reason I pay union dues is for the liability insurance. I joined ATL because they are more reasonable, less left wing, are not an embarrassment to the profession, and have an independent arm.

roisin · 03/04/2010 09:21

I'd go with the one with the most members at your school and the most active rep. Ask around among your colleagues. I'm with ATL.

EvilTwins · 03/04/2010 18:10

I'm with NAS. I joined as a student because both my parents were teachers at the time, and they were both NAS. Dad went on to sit on the National Executive, which was great for me - up-to-the-minute information and top notch advice every time!

I agree with others who suggest going for whichever has a good presence in your school, or whichever you feel has a good rep.

Ignore MmeB's suggestion that any union other than ATL is an embarrassment to the profession.

scaryteacher · 03/04/2010 22:57

I was ATL, as I am not militant about much.

cornsilk · 03/04/2010 23:00

I'm with ATL.They were as much use as a chocolate teapot when I wanted to work p/t after ds1 was born. Haven't got round to changing and am in a similar situation again.

clemette · 05/04/2010 02:05

Whereas the NAS successfully took my appeal for part-time hours to national level and set a precedent for flexible working hours for mother in management roles.
Don't really understand the idea of any of them being an embarrassment- they just have different foci and methods.

penguin73 · 06/04/2010 22:46

NASUWT - had big issues with NUT anti-military approach although I know that is why some people prefer them. Agree that the best advice is to go with the one that has the best presence in your workplace and a good local rep.

tethersend · 06/04/2010 22:52

^Please6 don't get Mme Blueberry started on Unions- EvilTwins and I have been there, and it doesn't end well

I am staunchly NUT, but the best advice you have been given is to join whichever union has the greatest presence not just in your school, but in the local area if you can find out.

The NUT has Stoke Rochfort Hall for training, though.

tethersend · 06/04/2010 22:54

And please let me sort out my italics.

SE13Mummy · 06/04/2010 22:58

I'm NASUWT and chose it precisely because it wasn't the one being peddled by the scary NUT rep at my first school. My DH is in ATL so I chose one that would let me lie low at school but had a decent local branch. I was one of two at my last school and think I'm the only one at my current school which is a position I'm quite happy with.

wastwinsetandpearls · 07/04/2010 00:35

I join the one that has the strongest presence in the school. I have done this as until my present job I have always worked in very tough schools. For most of my career this has been the NAS. To my regret the one time I really needed a union I did not use one but it has taught me the value of a union.

My present school has no union presence at all. So I have stayed with the NAS but am considering moving to the NUT as it would suit teachers better if we were all in one union.

soapboxqueen · 08/04/2010 18:24

I agree with the other comments about going with the one which is most popular in your school. I'm always the lone NASUWT member but I wouldn't change it.

As long as it's not ATL 'cos everyone knows they're wet.

DinahRod · 08/04/2010 18:38

NUT used to be the most militant/ active/ campaigning
ATL the least
and NASUWT somewhere in the middle

but NASUWT have become more militant/ active/ campaigning in recent years and are on par with the NUT

Am in the NUT but majority in school are NASUWT and I probably need to switch. Am not particularly militant myself but given my establishment ride roughshod over teachers given half the chance, needed a union with teeth. DH works with a number of challenging and sometime aggressive students so being a member of a union is "insurance"

But grrrr at GTC "membership" bill which arrived this Easter.

Feenie · 08/04/2010 18:50

Grrrr here too

mrz · 08/04/2010 19:04

There isn't an overall majority in my school with staff in 5 different unions!
I'm considering leaving the ATL - I joined at uni because I felt sorry for the rep - not the best reason for handing over your money every year!

Feenie · 08/04/2010 19:33

I've been in all three.

Left the ATL after 3 years because while other unions were discussing workload, testing and pay, etc, the ATL were discussing pertinent issues such as 'the dangers of the occult in primary schools'.

Then joined NASUWT, then we all changed to be in same union (NUT) at our school when it looked for a while as if we might need to.

soapboxqueen · 08/04/2010 19:56

Lol - dangers of the occult

Feenie · 08/04/2010 20:40

Was glad to know my union fees were spent on something useful!