Teaching merger

The potential merger of the three main teaching unions suffered a setback last month when members of the second largest, the NASUWT, supported an emergency conference resolution to put plans on hold.

The motion "deplored" the circulation of a document outlining the case for merger, before it had gone to conference, by new general secretary Eamonn O'Kane. Conference will now have to approve all future consultation documents.

O'Kane said delegates were mistaken in believing they were being "rushed into a merger" but said a special conference could be convened at any time to progress the debate.

* The Woolwich Group staff union has voted to merge with finance union UNIFI.