“Before the NQT
recruitment season gets under way, we need to take note of the fact that the
NASUWT have a free NQT year, and ATL are doing likewise. However good we in NUT
are doing – will we lose potential members at the NQT stage, simply because the
others are cheaper?”
|
I |
share
your concerns about the price war launched by the other teacher unions. Believe
me the Membership & Communications committee gives proper consideration to
our the membership figures, and looking at recruitment strategies.
You should know the latest – very positive! - figure. The Certification Officer – a statutory
role – has just published Union membership figures for 2004 and 2005… the
latest available.
Overall numbers in 2004 (inclusive of students
and retired members etc.) were NUT
330,000 - NASUWT 327,000.
The 2005 comparable figures are NUT 361,000 -
NASUWT 289,000.
We must be doing something right – and they MUST be doing something wrong! Which is why they are adopting panic “price war” measures.
That's not to say that we do not have to deal
with the price war launched by the NASUWT and ATL. Firstly, it shows that they
are trying to deal with a membership/recruitment problem that we have not had.
Their cosying up to Government in “Social Partnership” is not popular with
members. But their “price cutting” may create a problem for us if we
ignore it. To compete by matching their offer is really problematic even if we
thought we needed to do it - as NASUWT have now reached the low point of
offering to match the offer of any other union AND give an extra 3 free months on
top!
We, as a campaigning Union (rather than the top
down Social Partnership model) have been spending more over recent months and
years - on campaign activities, sustentation for members fighting TLR pay cuts,
on increasing Regional Office caseworker time, on working with broad coalitions
at national and local level, in the new activity grants for local associations,
in launching the Young Teachers Section, in improving communications and
organisation through new embryonic website developments etc., in supporting
work locally with students, NQTs, Young Teachers.... the list is very long
indeed.
The Executive took the very united view - and I
argued for this on Membership Committee and full Executive - that we should not
compete in the race to the bottom, with "free offer" membership, as
this would prevent us (and for that matter the other competing) unions from
having the funds to support our members and fight the attacks on the profession
and the education service.
Instead we agreed that we would demonstrate to
potential members the quality of NUT's work - its breadth and depth - and
particularly the full extent of individual member support. I think I would
agree that more work needs to be done on this, and that there is certainly a potential
danger that NQTs will go for the cheapest rather than the best... and will
not recognise that this will encourage unions to always look for the cheapest
service.
It’s certainly true though that "Poundland" and "Everything's a Quid" have not put shops selling quality products out of business. We have to make ourselves the "Market Leader" if our sister unions insist on a market-based competition.
BUT at the very same time, we should also
recommit ourselves publicly and loudly to the development of a single union for
all teachers - something that all teachers will respond to. Competition between
unions negates the old principles about unity and strength.. and the
'price war' tactics
adopted by NASUWT and ATL will
potentially damage teacher trade unionism across the board –
and consequently, the whole profession and service. We need a single union for
all teachers…
Ours is not an easy strategy - and it will rely
again on local officers and activists (sorry!) taking that message out, as well
as it being in The Teacher etc etc.
It's part of the reason that I'm visiting as many Associations and Divisions as possible over the next months - and I'd be very pleased to come and visit you and your members. If you go to "My Diary" it will help plan some possible dates - then email me... billvp@tiscali.co.uk
All
the very best
Bill