Two teaching groups merge to create a super-union

TEACHERS have voted to merge two unions to form a super group for education workers.

Members of the National Union of Teachers and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers backed the merger by more than two to one.

The National Education Union will be formed later in the year, representing 450,000 teachers and other education workers.

It will be the biggest union in Europe for education workers and the fourth biggest union in the UK. Union leaders said merging would give teachers a stronger voice to challenge issues such as funding cuts and a recruitment crisis.

Mary Bousted, general secretary of the ATL, said it was a ‘historic’ moment, adding: ‘We will speak with a stronger voice on behalf of education professionals and the children, young people and adults they support. We will be able to do so much more working together.’

NUT leader Kevin Courtney said: ‘For too long, governments have played divide and rule among education unions. Today marks the beginning of the end of that. The National Education Union will be a game-changer in the education landscape.’