The NASUWT Representative has many rights. Some of these rights are covered by legislation and some are the result of agreements reached between trade unions and employers.

It may be the case that these rights have been improved upon in your area by local agreement, so you should check with your Local Association Secretary what arrangements are in place.

Amongst the rights enjoyed by NASUWT Representatives are:

Statutory rghts

  • the right not be disciplined before discussions have taken place with a senior official of the Union;

  • the right to time off with pay for training;

  • the right to time off with pay for the performance of trade union duties; 

  • the right to information from the employer for the purposes of collective bargaining;

  • the right to be consulted before changes to working conditions are introduced. 
Agreed rights

These are set out in the Conditions of Service for School Teachers in England and Wales (Burgundy Book) (pdf) and apply to all LA schools, most foundation and voluntary-aided (VA) schools and many multi-academy trusts (MATs): 

  • the provision of lists of newly appointed teachers in the LA area and arrangements for communicating direct with the new teachers;

  • the provision annually of lists of teachers employed in the LA schools; 

  • the right to noticeboard(s) with sufficient space for display purposes; 

  • the right of access to a telephone with reasonable privacy (the cost of calls on union business can be reclaimed from the Local Association); 

  • the right of access to copying facilities (material costs should be reclaimed from the Local Association); 

  • the right to use suitable meeting rooms. 

These rights are described in more detail elsewhere in this manual.

​​​​​​For further information: