Association Changes

The NUT is the largest teachers’ union. Join NOW and pay nothing until 2011. Qualified in 2010? Get four terms membership for £1. Joining Hotlines: 0845 300 1669; 020 73380 6369. Already a member - then tell your colleagues to join now!

Our Job for 2010 – 2011: Protect East Riding Education & Teachers

It is no real surprise that nationally very few schools have taken the fast track to Academy status but we need to be vigilant over the coming year to ensure that we help prevent schools opting out of Local Authority control where parents and staff have not been consulted. The vast majority of Governing Bodies and Heads have seen through the Government’s smoke and mirrors attempts to remove schools from local democratic control. Coming very soon is the spending review which could have effects on next year’s budgets and will certainly have large implications for Local Government spending. The coalition is also lining up the axe on public service pensions – our deferred salary savings to be used to bail out the economy. The NUT is committed to protect teachers’ & children’s interests.

Welcome to the new year!

This newsletter is mailed into your home to welcome you to the new academic year. For some it will be the first term in a new job, new school or new local authority. For others it’s a return to continue working in an established setting. Whichever it is for you remember that the local NUT is here to support you. Please come and join us for a meeting and lunch. The first General Meeting of this academic year will be on Saturday September 25^th in Beverley from 10am in the Tiger Inn on Lairgate HU17 8JG. A lunch will be available after the meeting with an opportunity for an informal chat. It would be a real joy if we could get at least one member from every school there! Talk to colleagues, get a group together but please if you would like a meal it helps if you let us know so we have an idea of numbers to tell the chef.

Meeting Agenda:

Welcomes & Apologies, Minutes of last meeting, Officers Reports, Campaigns, Any other Business, Lunch & open forum

Who is your school rep?

This time of year often sees a change of school rep due to people moving on, retiring etc. If you aren’t sure who the rep is in your school then talk to your colleagues and volunteer someone. There are different levels of operation for reps and we would never ask any rep to undertake something they didn’t feel comfortable or happy with. At the simplest level a rep is a point of contact between members and the local association – opening post etc and a route for communication between the Head and members. Many reps have found this to be very helpful and positive giving them a greater insight into the working of a school and good for career development. There is lots of training and support available if you wish to develop the role. If you become rep please let us know (see below) and also inform Hamilton House (National HQ).

Have you started at a new school or job?

If the answer is yes then please let National Headquarters know. If you have changed your hours you may be paying us too much and whatever hours you work it is essential that we know where you are working. To update your membership details either log on to www.teachers.org.uk and then click on members centre where you will find an online form or simply call

0845 300 1666 or 02073806366 Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm.

Equal Opportunities Conferences

Are you interested in attending an Equal Opportunities conference as a member of East Riding NUT? There are some coming up later this year and we would like the local union to be represented.

The Anthony Walker Memorial Lecture,

Friday October 22^nd, 5pm, International Slavery Museum, Liverpool

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Teachers’ Conference,

Saturday November

6^th, Hamilton House (NUT HQ), Central London

Black Teachers’ Conference, Friday to Sunday, November 12^th -14^th, Stoke Rochford (NUT training centre, near Grantham)

All travel and expenses could be paid with the agreement of the officers.

If you would like further details please contact us – see above.

New colleagues

It would be a very friendly, welcoming gesture if you were to find a minute to chat with new colleagues and remind them of the need to be in an effective Union. Likewise with colleagues joining you from other schools or areas; just say hello to them and see if they are already NUT members. If they aren’t you might show them the following:

WHY CHOOSE THE NUT? HERE ARE TEN GOOD REASONS TO BE IN THE NUT

· The NUT is the largest and most influential teachers’ organisation in England and Wales.

· Only the NUT seeks professional unity: one teachers’ organisation to speak for the whole profession.

· The NUT provides access to a first rate legal service through its network of experienced and qualified staff, including practising solicitors in its offices throughout the English regions and in Wales to give immediate cover to teachers in trouble – legal and professional advice, guidance and support.

· The NUT has a network of representatives working on a voluntary basis to represent members in schools, colleges, services and units throughout England and Wales.

· The NUT offers a wide range of high quality, good value benefits and services from endorsed suppliers.

· The NUT offers its members a range of opportunities for high quality training and professional development in a ‘no threat, no blame’ climate.

· The NUT is a trade union and a professional association, working on professional and curricular issues as well as teachers’ conditions of service and pay.

· The NUT recruits qualified teachers or those who are on courses or in posts that will lead to teacher qualification, so it is best placed to speak on behalf of the profession.

· The NUT has a long and proud tradition of campaigning for equal opportunities for teachers and for pupils.

· The NUT is affiliated to the TUC but not to any political party or the “social partnership” so it can speak freely and independently to the Government.