Community family grows

Voice: The Union for Education Professionals has joined forces with Community Union in an exciting new development for both unions. Voice has transferred to Community to become its education and early years section, following a ballot of Voice members earlier this year which saw 78.5% of votes cast in favour of the transfer.

Roy Rickhuss, General Secretary of Community, said:

“We are delighted to welcome members of Voice into the Community family.”

“Voice has long been an organisation whose values align closely with our own. As a member led union which believes in a modern approach to trade unionism, Voice is the perfect fit. We know that members who work in the education and childcare sector will value the Community approach and the stronger collective voice as well as the additional benefits they will now have access to.”

“We have been impressed by the work Voice do to support individual members and will ensure that members receive the same high level of service throughout the transition and beyond.”

“I can’t wait to get started working with the Voice team to ensure the best deal for workers in the education and childcare sector.”

Assistant General Secretary (Voice Section of Community) Deborah Lawson added:

“We are delighted to be joining Community, with a clear mandate for change from our membership in the ballot result.

“The transfer offers the best of both worlds for our members. Both unions are modern and forward-thinking. As a section of Community, Voice will retain its name, its  identity,  policies, and its dedicated specialist staff. It will continue to set its own distinct and unique agenda and priorities for education and early education and childcare.

“However, as part of a much larger union – with representation on Community’s National Executive Committee – members will be part of a larger campaigning union, and that will strengthen and increase their influence on issues that are important to them.

“Transferring to Community is the best way to strengthen Voice’s influence, its service to members, and provide a modern trade union approach in an increasingly challenging world.

“As Voice celebrates its 50^th anniversary, it is time for another key milestone in our journey that began in 1970 when the Professional Association of Teachers (PAT) sought alternative methods to resolve disputes.

“While still retaining our principles, it is now time for us to move forwards as part of a union that, like Voice, puts its members, and their work in local communities, at the centre of what it does.

“At a time of great change in how and where we work, it is exciting to look forward to positive change, and to working with Community and Voice colleagues through the transition period.”

Notes:

Community is the modern union for a changing world.  It represents workers across every sector of the UK economy and looks to shape the future of work. Community has a strong presence in manufacturing, justice and custodial, finance, and the third sector, and now amongst education and early years professionals.

Voice is the union for education professionals. Voice works to represent those working in the education sector, early years and childcare to ensure that members have the support, guidance and representation of a strong and approachable union.

For more information, please contact: Melantha Chittenden on 07772146553 or at media@community-tu.org