Possible Merger of University and School Unions

The University and College Union will be discussing the potential of merging with the National Union of Teachers at the UCU annual congress, held at Manchester this month. The regional committees of the East Midlands and South East proposed the UCU’s National Executive Committee to study the pros and cons of a merger, reporting back next year.

The NEC was also recommended to nurture a stronger relationship with the NUT at both regional and local levels, whilst considering ways of strengthening the co-operation between the two unions at national levels.

Other topics for discussion at the congress include pay, academic freedom, education’s purpose, climate change and privatisation. Sally Hunt, the UCU general secretary said she was looking forward to three days of lively debate. She also stated that the congress would be “the perfect opportunity to reaffirm our position as the defenders of education,” in response to criticism of UK’s education position.