Would you work in a school with no union?

[Curiousmum69]

Have a new job and I asked about who the union rep was after suggesting that there were way too many observed lessons. I was told there wasn't one as it was a guaranteed managed move out if you tried to take the roleas the head is so anti unions... how would you tackle this?

State seconday. Not academy

Oh wow. I would run for the hills! What would happen if an allegation was made against you?!

I’d never work anywhere without being a member of a union. I have worked in schools without a union rep.

I taught in a school where being a member of a union was “not recommended”. It was the worst teaching year of my life! I’m so pleased I’m not there anymore. It was a CTC (now known as Academies)

I would never teach without being in a union.

You are talking about a school without a union rep in though which is a completely different thing.

I have worked in schools where there has been an NASUWT rep in which made very little difference to me as I was NUT. There is no union rep at my school currently. If I ever need to ring the union, I ring my local branch rep who is extremely helpful.

I was told there wasn't one as it was a guaranteed managed move out if you tried to take the roleas the head is so anti unions

The head sounds like a dick though anyway, and so I wouldn’t want to work for them!

I'd have worked in a school without a union rep, but never without being a union member. What happens if a child falsely accuses you of something? I once worked with a TA in a behavioural needs unit, who wasn't in a union - I thought he was taking a massive risk.

We don't have one at the school. Teachers are still in unions though. We've still got union support if needed but have to call it in based on our individual memberships. I know a few staff members who have done so.

As the poster said above. Union membership is up to you. Your school certainly can't prevent you being in one or seeking advice from one.

Just as a note of caution, the union can't and won't solve everything.

I'm not a member. They really do very little tbh

I’ve used my union several times, having an advocate in meetings has been invaluable and enables you to have a neutral, informed witness who takes notes. Very useful if the shit is flying and one is confused and potentially being railroaded by SLT or events.

Just as a note of caution, the union can't and won't solve everything.I'm not a member. They really do very little tbh

And you know this how?

I've never worked in a school where there was a union rep. I've always been a member of a union though. They are two different things.

Are you a member of a union?

How do you think echt?

I worked in an academy with no union rep as the head 'didn't listen to unions'. I didn't work there long, it was awful.
Lessons observations constantly and overly onerous performance management with a dissertation type task - not for me, all that nonsense.

Artfullydead I’m a rep. You would have no idea if the amount of times I’m asked for support - the advice I give, the time I put in finding info for people and supporting them. A random member of staff, whether in the union or not! would never know - everything is confidential.

@Artfullydead The union are it's members and not a superhero with a Cape that can come in a solve things. But they aren't supposed to be a service that you pay for. The best results of unions comes from members working together to afford change.

Yoi can certainly be a member without a rep. And it sounds like a school that needs unio members to work together. If a rep is being managed out, where are all the other members to challenge it?

I've worked in a school where there was no rep, they were forced out for raising many many issues. You still need to be in a union for the legal protection. I had to get the regional rep in who basically told me they spent more time at my school than any where else and the best thing I could do was move somewhere else- they were right