NEU Added 50,000 Members In Covid Pandemic

[saggu]

A few years ago our executive head at the time gave an instruction for all staff to join a union. This came from an incident in his other school where a student had made a (later found false) allegation against one of their staff, who wasn't in a union. Police were involved and it was a mess because the member of staff had no legal protection whatsoever. It was this incident that made me join Unison at the time, as I wasn't in a union, despite working in schools for ~5 years prior. I kept thinking "oh, I'll just do it later", which I constantly delayed. I then switched to the NEU because I wanted a union that was more education oriented, as Unison/Unite/GMB are all generic industry unions.

 

Oh! thank for this info. I might change to NEU then!

[stevejp]

A few years ago our executive head at the time gave an instruction for all staff to join a union. This came from an incident in his other school where a student had made a (later found false) allegation against one of their staff, who wasn't in a union. Police were involved and it was a mess because the member of staff had no legal protection whatsoever. It was this incident that made me join Unison at the time, as I wasn't in a union, despite working in schools for ~5 years prior. I kept thinking "oh, I'll just do it later", which I constantly delayed. I then switched to the NEU because I wanted a union that was more education oriented, as Unison/Unite/GMB are all generic industry unions.

 

I wish all bosses showed that much foresight and concern for the welfare of their employees. As @mikeprice said above, teachers get the need for union membership drummed into them from the earliest days of training. When I was at college (Noah was in the year above me, if I remember correctly - before anyone else comments...), the unions were very active in recruiting first years, and the protection from accusations was one of the things that they really pushed. Teaching practice schools (in my experience) were also very conscientious in advising students to join a union.

For anyone still undecided, think back to the last safeguarding training that you received - and then ask yourself what you would do if an accusation like that were levelled at you...

Edited September 1, 2020 by stevejp

[mikeprice]

For anyone still undecided, think back to the last safeguarding training that you received - and then ask yourself what you would do if an accusation like that were levelled at you...

 

to emphasise this

 

bear in mind that EVERYONE would be told to not talk to you

 

at all

 

and the school would be forced to treat the accuser as if they believe them

 

as would the Police

 

because - IF it was real the accuser would be incredibily brave to accuse you and would need that support

 

and lots of people in the past have said they have been abused - and been dismissed

 

 

But now we KNOW that accusers MAY be truthful - and if they are then they need help and need to believe what they say - becaues they are traumatised

 

 

 

 

 

 

But if you are innocent then this still happens - and has to

 

so you NEED someone on your side

and that can only be a Union

 

That is what they are there for

 

it may be extremely unlikely that this will ever happen

 

but then you drive a car with airbags - but assume you never need them

 

and you PROBABLY won't

 

but you don't deinstall them - why is that??

[stevejp]

to emphasise this

 

bear in mind that EVERYONE would be told to not talk to you

 

at all

 

and the school would be forced to treat the accuser as if they believe them

 

as would the Police

 

because - IF it was real the accuser would be incredibily brave to accuse you and would need that support

 

and lots of people in the past have said they have been abused - and been dismissed

 

 

But now we KNOW that accusers MAY be truthful - and if they are then they need help and need to believe what they say - becaues they are traumatised

 

 

 

 

 

 

But if you are innocent then this still happens - and has to

 

so you NEED someone on your side

and that can only be a Union

 

That is what they are there for

 

it may be extremely unlikely that this will ever happen

 

but then you drive a car with airbags - but assume you never need them

 

and you PROBABLY won't

 

but you don't deinstall them - why is that??

 

It is indeed a very lonely and worrying place to be.

[Andrew_C]

Yeah not in a union unfortunately, though I really should be.

[sTREAM OF PROFANITY] Join a UNION - NOW!

[mrstrong]

can anyone recommend a good union to join for IT support staff in schools?

[Andrew_C]

The difficulty is - you don't know how good they are unless things go wrong, and even then it is difficult to compare them.

 

I was with ATL (strong in independent sector) now merged with NEU. They do a reduced rate for us pond-life.

[Bionic]

can anyone recommend a good union to join for IT support staff in schools?

Don't regard this as a recommendation because I have only recently joined, but after doing some research the NEU seemed like a good choice - I am also IT support staff.

[Norphy]

As stated earlier in the thread, I'm in the NEU.

 

The effectiveness of a union can't really be judge from other people in other areas; everyone is going to have a different union rep and they're not going to be the same. Some are going to be good, some are going to be bad.

 

The point is, whoever you choose, you're going to get some cover. I chose the ATL (as it was back them) because I was getting increasingly dissatisfied with Unison's politics so I went with a education union who accepted support staff. The NEU still do this and at least make the pretense to give a stuff about them so I'm sticking with them for the time being

[mikeprice]

I was impressed with the support from the ATL - before the merger/takeover to become the NEU

 

However, when I have needed to contact them it has been the local reps and their immediate support that has helped - I can imagine that some areas might have less dedicated local staff

 

I would check out the local people and their experiences. If you are in a large school there might well be a rep in the school who has already got a relationship with the SMT - ask around about how effective they are

 

 

Based on people I have known who have had a problem and found their union useless - this has often been Unison - so - personally I wouldn't go near them - but this is based on second hand info and a very small sample - again the dedication and effectiveness of the local reps may make the difference

[paulkerton]

can anyone recommend a good union to join for IT support staff in schools?

Ultimately, whichever union every one else is in. Strength in numbers and all that.

[smurfomatic]

I've just joined Voice, as it seemed to be the best fit for me. I would have joined NEU but the school rep is a person I don't get on with, so didn't want to have to speak to them about any issues!

[stevejp]

I was very thankful to be in ATL a few years ago - to cut a long story short, some little wotsit made a malicious allegation, and the union-provided solicitor was invaluable.

[Danp]

NEU (joined when ATL). I don't really notice the cost per month but I know I feel better knowing I have that back up. Only needed to contact them once and they gave very good advice.

[PyROm]

Just switched from GMB to Voice today after being with GMB over 10 years. Everyone has had bad experiences with GMB at our workplace, including me, there always very negative towards staff (and thats if you could contact them) and it felt more like they were working for the headteacher then yourselves on top of that they were giving out advice on stress (aimed at keeping people at work) that my GP said was very dangerous and likely to cause mental problems. The Trust Pilot reviews say it all. Voice costs more but because of my previous remarks I think its worth it.

[saggu]

Is Voice only for education sector or generic?

[elsiegee40]

Is Voice only for education sector or generic?

 

Their website says “Voice is the union for education professionals.”

 

I read that as education only

[mikeprice]

Their website says “Voice is the union for education professionals.”

 

I read that as education only

 

eduction only - but maybe not schools only

 

anyone who works in school but works FOR a 3rd party company may be eligible???

 

Anyone know??

[saggu]

Going to contact them. Finding my union doesn't care at all. not even reply to my email to give advice.

[6Foot2]

Going to contact them. Finding my union doesn't care at all. not even reply to my email to give advice.

 

Taking the money, then not interested in helping when asked? Not Unison by any chance?

 

Background: I asked Unison for help, they assured me that someone would talk to me soon.

 

I started a diary - thinking that would be part of the advice they would be giving me when they got in touch.

 

15 months later I had a complete diary of events, but still had not been contacted by Unison.

 

[mikeprice]

Got my membership magazine from the NEU this morning

 

There is an articel in it saying that they have seen a huge surge in support staff joining

 

many of them having not been in a union before but feel they need the support of a union due to the recent behaviour by the school and other such job worries

 

can't find an online version to link to

[6Foot2]

...can't find an online version to link to

Is this it?

 

Link: Educate Sept/Oct 2020 [NEU]

 

[mikeprice]

Is this it?

 

Link: Educate Sept/Oct 2020 [NEU]

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]59119[/ATTACH]

 

Yup - thanks - that's the one

[saggu]

Taking the money, then not interested in helping when asked? Not Unison by any chance?

 

Background: I asked Unison for help, they assured me that someone would talk to me soon.

 

I started a diary - thinking that would be part of the advice they would be giving me when they got in touch.

 

15 months later I had a complete diary of events, but still had not been contacted by Unison.

 

 

Oh! didn't realise they are so useless. Slowly slowly unrevealing!

[DrBeaker]

Unite were absolutely useless and very unhelpful when I needed them as a member. No support at all. Empty promises.