NADO Inaugural Conference : Trade Unions and Professional Associations: Links and Contrasts in a growing Part-time, Temporary Employment Culture in HE
A professional association and a trade union actually have a number of things in common.
The AUT (Association of University Teachers) has over 40,000 members nationally and has local associations (branches) which feed into the national council (policy forming body of the trade union). The national executive does the day-to-day running of the trade union. Anyone at any time has the access to the person they need to talk to in the trade union. There is no layering unlike in some other trade unions.
Within the AUT we recognise that there is a need to organise into particular groups (librarians, computer related staff etc.).
The major policy problem at the moment is the casualisation of higher education to an extent that has never been seen before. Between 40 and 50% of staff are on fixed term contracts. This is having an impact on the quality of higher education and the quality of work. The AUT is still fighting this battle and has been running a campaign against casualisation.
We protest, work and campaign to give you the right to be professional. If you have no job security and do not have the right to stand up and say what you believe as a professional without feeling that your job is under threat, it does not matter if you have a professional association.
We have a strong research department whose work enables our members to further their work in higher education. Comment in the press is often AUT based, e.g. a lot will be said about the BETT Committee in the next six months.
We also have a very strong legal sector with professional lawyers as we sometimes have to take employers to court. We have a 24 hour stress helpline which is used a lot due to the pressure of work, and we are launching legal helplines. We give good, basic support to our members on every level that we can.
We also talk to government and work with other trade unions (including international trade unions). Shortly we are balloting on industrial action on pay. If we don't have any discussion that is meaningful on behalf of our members, we go to our members and say we should act collectively.
I think it is a very positive and sensible move for you to form into a professional association. In this way only can you give recognition and voice to the very good work that you do. Do not assume that it will happen despite yourselves, you have to do it for yourselves and together.
I hope that the AUT can give you the support you need in terms of industrial relations, our links with government, our international links, and our links with other trade unions in the sector.