Do I really need to be in three unions?

[Fallulah]

I'm a school direct trainee, salaried, started in September. At university enrolment there was an odd conveyor belt system where you couldn't leave the hall until you'd been past reps from three teaching unions - ATL, NUT and another. We were told we couldn't teach in a classroom unless we were in a union ....doubting this I tried to probe further but the only reason they could give for being in a union was ' in case you get sued'. Aware that I was causing a bottleneck, and clocking the free pens, I decided it was easier to sign up and question later. Which I am doing now!

The other complicating factor to this is that if there was another teachers' strike, I wouldn't want to be involved. Firstly I can't afford to, and secondly I would feel a fraud because I have come into the profession knowing exactly what to expect in terms ofpay and conditions ...to then complain about it seems wrong.

So the question is, do I need to be in a union and which would be best given my circumstances? All memberships are free for students so it's not costing me anything at the moment but three seems excessive!

No. Once you pay, you only belong to one.

The 'best' is generally the one with the biggest representation at the school you work at - it can be difficult to 'be on your own'.

If you feel strongly about not striking, then ask them about this - PAT used to have a non-strike promise, but I may be out of date now.

IMO, yes, you'd be daft to work in a school without Union backing. You are so vulnerable to false accusations, it's comforting to know you have legal backing should it ever be needed.

However, on the thinking of your 2nd paragraph...... without the unions, do you really think that the pay and conditions would be as they are now, at a place where you are happy to take them on ? Do you think that the lovely government ministers will kindly give you a 'cost of living ' increase every year, without people being in a union ?

Yes you absolutely need to be a union. NUT are the most militant so avoid them if you don't like striking, next is NASUWT, then ATL. Voice are a non-striking union if you don't want to strike at all.

However, you also want to join the union with the best representation in your school. Voice probably won't have any other members in your school let alone a union rep. Ask around and see which one your colleagues belong to and why.

Who do you think has fought for the pay and conditions you have?

You should also be in a union for advice and support on individual circumstances of pay and conditions, say if your head tries to cheat you out of a pay increment, tries to make you redundant when they shouldn't, if you get bullied by a member of staff... There are all sorts of scenarios in which you might need the backing of a union.

You can choose not to strike even if your union is (though unethical) but you'd be better off joining a non striking union in that case.

Pay and conditions change. The staff who are striking now are striking because the goal posts were shifted. It will happen to you too and you'll want unions to fight your corner then.

You must join a union.

Also, just because you've signed up for x, y and z pay and conditions now doesn't mean they will stay like that forever (or even a year).

You don't have to belong to a union. Edapt will sell you legal insurance cover in case a kid accuses you of something.

In your case is just stick with atl. Very unlikely to strike. Nasuwt and nut have been infiltrated by socialist worker types.

I'm confused by your post-are you asking if you have to be in one union or three?

Unions are their for your benefit. If the government suddenly decide to scrap the holidays (which is looking increasingly likely) or you have to teach 7.30-6pm to help parents who work (and then plan in the evenings) and the job becomes something you didn't sign up for, you will have a 'voice' to do something. Or will you stay in teaching forever, no matter what they throw at you?

As a student or trainee you are encouraged to join the main 3 unions, sign up to all or 1, use the freebies/perks that they offer in your training year, read the magazines they send you and form an opinion on which suits you best
At my work its maybe an equalish spread of nut and NASUWT (primary school) and only one ATL member I know of
In Nut I have been on strike but feel they are quick to strike so don't always (which others may disagree with) but I like the perks of the membership as I've saved money on holidays

You don't HAVE to belong to a Union at all, not even Edapt if you don't want to!

I'm very surprised that the Reps said that the only reason to join was 'in case you get sued'. One reason for joining a Union is to give you a voice in your profession. As previous posters have said you wouldn't have the pay and conditions you have now if it wasn't for Unions e.g. the right not to be sacked just because you have a baby, maternity leave, equal pay for women teachers, secondary eduction for all...

NUT, infiltrated by socialist worker types?
Oh, for heaven's sake. ATL was infiltrated by Daily Mail readers years ago Do keep up.
Altogether now... sings The people's flag is deepest red..* (polishes NUT badge busily)

It's advisable to be in a union (insurance for various things, advice, support etc), but you don't have to if you don't want to. If you want to join a union that won't ask you to strike, then I would suggest joining Voice. It's also worth noting that even if the 3 main unions ask you to strike, you can decline and not strike. You can't be forced to strike.