Who should you recruit?

Existing colleagues

The most common reason given for not being in a trade union is, ‘Nobody asked me’.

There has never been a more important time to recruit to the NASUWT, the largest teachers’ union in Northern Ireland. The NASUWT represents teachers and lecturers in all phases and sectors from nursery to further education across the UK.

Newly appointed colleagues

NASUWT Representatives should not assume that a new member of staff is already a member of the NASUWT or any teacher trade union. NASUWT Representatives should ensure that new starters, including student teachers on their work-based placements, are welcomed and made aware that the NASUWT Representative is always available for help and support. This introduction can then be built on to discuss the benefits of NASUWT membership with these colleagues.

Beginning teachers

The National Union communicates regularly with all NASUWT student members during their final year leading to qualification and has a good success rate of converting them to beginning teacher membership.

NASUWT Representatives should not assume that all beginning teachers have already joined the NASUWT or any other teacher trade union. In addition to discussing why the NASUWT is the largest teachers’ union in Northern Ireland and the UK, NASUWT Representatives should ensure that they are informing beginning teachers of the most current NASUWT new teacher subscription offers, as well as the specific beginning teacher-focused seminars that the NASUWT runs every year.

Beginning teacher membership offer

All beginning teacher members who agree to pay the second year of subscription by direct debit will receive FREE NASUWT membership for the first term of teaching plus the following calendar year, followed by a 50% reduction on the second calendar year.

Free full beginning teacher membership can commence in the months leading up to the date of qualification and provides cover for any supply work during this time.

Members who do not wish to pay by direct debit receive free membership for the first term after qualifying and half price membership for the following two calendar years.

Initial teacher training students

Initial teacher training (ITT) students receive legal and professional cover and other membership benefits completely free during their training. The NASUWT has close links with the National Union of Students (NUS). The NUS will deal with any education-related casework whilst the NASUWT will deal with any school-based issues that occur whilst on teaching practice.

Many ITT students are recruited at the beginning of their course whilst at university. However, NASUWT Representatives should always check with those on teaching placement that they are receiving the benefits of FREE NASUWT student membership. Some ITT students, for example distance learning students, may not have been approached at university.

  • Full subscriptions can be paid monthly, quarterly or annually by direct debit or by credit or debit card card by simply telephoning the Membership Team on 03330 145550. Current subscription rates are listed on our What You Should Pay page.

  • Members paying subscription by direct debit get extra benefits.

  • Part-time teachers on 60% contracts or less pay half the subscription and those on 30% or less pay only 25%. Both concessions enjoy full membership benefits.

  • Lapsed members returning to the NASUWT are not covered for the time during which they did not pay subscriptions.

  • Tax relief is available on subscriptions. Contact your local tax office, quoting your National Insurance number or your tax reference number. Our Membership Offers page has details of how to do this.

Useful recruitment resources produced by the NASUWT:

Always apprise yourself of the latest membership offers and recruitment incentives. These can be found on our Why Join? page.

All the resources detailed above can be downloaded free of charge from this website.

It has never been easier to join the NASUWT either online or with one hassle-free phone call to 03330 145550.