Launch of joint partnership agreement between the National Union of Teachers and UCU

The agreement will bring together nearly half a million trade union members and will ensure that both unions are better placed to protect their members and add strength to their common endeavours. While both organisations will maintain their own identities the purpose of the partnership is to:

• promote partnership working between the NUT and UCU
• avoid competitive trade unionism across sectors
• maximise the voice of teachers and lecturers on all education matters for children, young people and adults.

The unions believe that children, young people and adults deserve the best education service. To secure this they believe that there has to be the maximum possible professional unity amongst teachers and lecturers in the education sector and their unions.
 
Christine Blower, General Secretary of the NUT, Europe's largest teaching union, said: 'We are delighted to be joining together at a time when it is vital to defend public services and public sector workers. Half a million education professionals standing up for the education service will be a force to be reckoned with'.
 
Sally Hunt, General Secretary of UCU, said: 'Whilst the government is chopping and changing the education departments again, UCU and NUT strongly believe in the importance of access to education from cradle to grave. We will be working together to provide the best possible education experience for children, students and adult learners and the best conditions for staff across the sectors.'
 
The partnership will be officially launched at the home of the TUC - Congress House, Great Russell Street, London, WC1 - at an event from 6- 8pm.