“Where trade unions are most firmly organised, there are the rights of the people most respected.”
Samuel Gompers
On the first day of my PGCE our course director, Alistair McMillen, one of the top academics in the teacher training school of QUB, addressed all the bright and shiny potential teachers in the lecture theatre. He gave us three pieces of advice about teaching, advice which I will share below:
One: Don’t expect teaching to make you rich.
Two: Teaching is challenging, emotionally, intellectually and physically.
Three: Join a teaching union. Don’t even think about entering a classroom without union support.
How does joining a union benefit me?
There are three main reasons teachers benefit from being in a union:
Protecting your rights
Trade union members get free access to professional and legal help should they encounter problems in their careers. Trained union reps are available for advice and help, and union officials can be contacted to resolve complex issues for you.
Additionally union officers work constantly with the management side (DE and employers) to negotiate better pay and conditions for members. The more active members a union has, the greater the leverage in these negotiations.
Career development
Teaching unions run PRSD courses throughout the year, all of which count as PRSD for your career development. From behaviour management to mental health first aid, there are plenty of courses to choose from, and they’re free for members.
There are also opportunities to train as a workplace rep or health and safety representative, with associated detailed training in relevant law leading to recognised qualifications.
Being part of something bigger
Fundamentally trade unions are about working people coming together to make life better for their colleagues and wider communities. Anyone who depends financially on a salary is a working person, and unions exist for every profession – from shop assistants to cardiologists.
Together trade unions have transformed our country, pushing governments to positively legislate on everything from fair employment to health and safety; from disability rights to LGBQT+ equality.
“All the evidence shows very clearly that if you are a member of a trade union you are likely to get better pay, more equal pay, better health and safety, more chance to get training, more chance to have condition of work that help if you have caring responsibilities… the list goes on!”
Frances O’Grady, former General Secretary of TUC, now Baroness O’Grady.
There are four main teaching unions in Northern Ireland:
The National Association of Schoolteachers and Union of Women Teachers is the largest teachers’ union in Northern Ireland, and represents over 300 000 teachers across the entirety of the UK. Join NASUWT here.
The Ulster Teachers’ Union is a Northern Ireland based union which has been running for over 100 years, and is dedicated to supporting teachers in the NI education system. Join UTU here.
The Irish National Teachers’ Union is the oldest and largest teachers’ union on the island of Ireland, supporting teachers both north and south of the border. You can join INTO here.
The NEU was formed after amalgamation of several other teaching unions, and is now the largest teachers’ union in the UK and Europe. Join NEU here.
While school leaders can be found in all teaching unions, the National Association of Head Teachers specialises in supporting school leaders, including people on leadership pathways. Join NAHT here.
A relatively new addition to the teaching union landscape in Northern Ireland, the Association of School and College Leaders is currently not one of the 5 “recognised” teaching unions who sit on pay and conditions negotiations. It specialises in supporting school and college leaders. Join ASCL here.
The cost of joining a trade union (your union “subs”) can be part-claimed back from HMRC (NASUWT and NEU) or can receive tax relief at source if the teacher is paid by DE (UTU and INTO). So it actually costs very little to receive all of these benefits and protections.
“it is the spirit of trade unionism that is most important, the service of fellowship, the feeling that the hurt of one is the concern of all, and that the work of the individual benefits all.”
Rose Schneiderman
Hallowe’en break in…
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