What is a Career Learning Representative?
Career Learning Reps (CLRs) are union representatives trained to support learning at work and to work with course providers and employers for the benefit of all:
- CLRs can provide initial advice and guidance to individuals and signpost them to educational organisations for additional support;
- They work to identify learning and skills needs in the workplace;
- They provide learning advice and guidance on the latest training initiatives and programmes;
- They secure equal opportunities in learning and training;
- Career Learning Representatives have statutory rights to carry out their roles.
What does a Career Learning Representative do?
The following gives an idea of the range of activities a CLR might be involved in:
- Give information and advice about learning and training opportunities;
- Identify learning and training needs;
- Promote and arrange training;
- Supporting learners;
- Consult with the employer about learning and training;
- Work with providers.
Training for Career Learning Representatives
For members interested in this new role current training courses are available to view in the Trade Union Training section of our website.
Election of a H&S Representative
H&S Representatives should be elected every year and existing representatives are eligible for re-election. A meeting should be called of all INTO members at the start of the new school year.
Northern Office should be informed of the election results by returning the H&S Representatives Pro-Forma below as soon as possible.
Status of the School Representative
An accredited School Representative is an elected representative of INTO. The INTO provides each School Representative with written credentials which set out:
- The school the appointment covers;
- The duties of the H&S Representative.
The Accreditation Certificate bears the authorizing signature of the Northern Secretary. The School Representative should always be aware that in the carrying out of these duties she/he is acting on behalf of INTO and that management must recognize her/him as the representative of INTO members in the school.
Accreditation
Northern Office issues the H&S Representative with an Accreditation Letter.
The Role of The Health & Safety Representative
Most of us are aware that working in a poor work environment can be detrimental to health and performance. However, a poor work environment should not be viewed as a condition of employment. INTO members can change these conditions; as a health and safety rep, you can make your own workplace a better, safer and healthier place to work.
Encompassing a variety of issues from slips and trips to stress or asbestos, being an INTO health and safety rep is about wanting to make a positive change in your workplace.
What Does A Health & Safety Representative Do?
As an INTO health and safety rep, your role will include:
- educating members to ensure they recognise both hidden and more obvious health and safety issues, and keeping them at the top of workplace and branch agendas;
- encouraging engagement between health and safety reps and members to discuss how issues can be solved;
- working in partnership with other unions and employers to ensure positive outcomes when dealing with potential health and safety issues;
- working closely with INTO reps.
INTO members have the right to appoint their own safety representatives in every workplace regardless of how small or large the membership is.
The role is enormously satisfying and rewarding - safety reps have the opportunity to learn new skills and broaden their experience; and a successful rep can have a very positive effect on the work environment to the benefit of colleagues and students.
Health and safety reps are legally entitled to investigate health and safety concerns and have paid time off. INTO supports our safety reps through INTO H&S training courses and seminars run throughout the year.
Current training courses are available to view in the Trade Union Training section of our website.
Useful Information for Health & Safety Reps:
INTO recognizes that school representatives need to be equipped to carry out their duties and responsibilities. INTO’s training courses ensure that school representatives receive information concerning developments in such areas as:
- Terms and conditions of employment;
- Industrial relations legislation;
- Health and safety at work;
- INTO policy.
As the INTO representative in your school/college, you are the members’ first point of contact with their union.
INTO Training Courses aim to:
- Build your confidence in your relationship with school/college management, and INTO members;
- Increase your awareness of the INTO and its resources and how these can assist you in your role.
Equip you with strategies to:
- Represent the INTO in your school/college;
- Represent INTO members both within your school/college and within your local branch;
- Extend your knowledge of the INTO and teachers’ conditions of service; and
- Manage the role of school representative alongside the demands of your professional role.
Current training courses are available to view in the Trade Union Training section of our website.
School Rep Training Webinars
Thursday 11 November 2021: Representing Members at School Level:
PowerPoint Presentation (PDF)
Webinar Recording
1. Recruitment
The maintenance of the INTO’s position of strength as a trade union is contingent on the recruitment of new members. School representatives have a key role in recruitment.
Direct recruiting of another member of staff is not always an easy task. The following suggestions may help:
- Introduce yourself to new teachers. Outline your role and explain that you are there to help and advise.
- Advise new teachers on the benefits of INTO membership and other conditions of service.
- New teachers should be advised of special meetings for new teachers.
- They should be given membership application forms to complete and sign. The school representative should ensure that the forms are completed properly and forwarded to the Northern Office without delay.
- New members should be invited to Branch Meetings and the procedures explained to them.
For more information and for further help with recruitment of new members check out our School Reps Recruitment Section.
2. Meetings
Why Call Meetings
The school representative should call regular meetings of INTO members in the school:
- To discuss issues within the school.
- To inform about and report on INTO meetings.
- To explain directives and policy decisions.
- To obtain the members’ views.
Time and Venue
Meetings should be held as and when necessary. The school representative does not have a right to call meetings during school hours. However, in many schools the period immediately before or after a school meeting is often used for an INTO meeting. In this case, it is important that it is clear to all parties that this is a union meeting. It is usually acceptable to have the meeting on the school premises with prior permission from the school authorities (see Facilities Agreement). Management may allow meetings during school hours provided appropriate arrangements can be made for the care and supervision of the children.
Running of Meetings
All the members who are represented by the school representative should always be invited to attend. Meetings should be held promptly and run efficiently. Members should have prior notice of the items which are to be discussed at the meeting. With a small group, it may not be necessary to have a written agenda, but members should be aware of the order of business and the procedure to be followed. The school representative should chair the meeting.
The discussion should be kept relevant and to the point. Every aspect should be considered. Careful planning prior to the meeting will help to ensure that this is the case. All the members should be invited and encouraged to express their points of view. Before a decision is made, the school representative should try to ensure that everyone understands precisely what the implications of the decision would be.
When a decision is made, it should be recorded on an agreed form and read back to the members. Minutes of such meetings are not absolutely necessary. Decisions should always be recorded. Meetings should be brief. Advice should be sought where necessary from the
Northern Committee representative or Northern Office.
3. Handling Members' Problems
WATCH Our School Reps Training Webinar:
Representing Members at School Level: Thursday 11 November 2021:
PowerPoint Presentation (PDF)
Webinar Recording
Introduction
In most cases members will bring problems to the school representative. It is also necessary to look out for issues which members do not raise because they may not be aware of their rights or the appropriate agreements or regulations.
Key Issues
Whenever a representative is faced with a problem, a number of questions must be asked and decisions made. Here are some of the main points which must be considered:
What are the facts? Is it a grievance against management? Is it an individual case or a broader problem? Can it be settled locally? What agreements cover this problem? Are there any INTO policies on it? Do any legal rights apply? Should advice be sought elsewhere? How should the members be involved? What is the INTO’s aim in cases like this? How should the issue be taken up? If necessary, what pressure can be used?
Advising Members
Members bring different sorts of problems to the school representative. For example, inadequate heating is the direct responsibility of management and should be taken up with the principal. Always plan carefully when dealing with members’ problems.
Some problems may be resolved through advice. The representative should try to be helpful even if the problem is not directly concerned with work and should find out where to send members for more advice.
Complaints about other members should not normally be taken up with management except in respect of a member’s responsibility for aspects of the running of the school. In the latter instance, management may be the appropriate authority to arbitrate on a dispute.
Grievance and Disciplinary Procedures
Grievance and Disciplinary Procedures for teachers in schools with non-delegated budgets are contained in the INTO Handbook. The Board of Governors of a school with a fully delegated budget shall establish Disciplinary Rules and Grievance Procedures and shall take steps to bring these to the attention of staff. Model procedures have been agreed with the TNC and these model schemes have been circulated to schools. The Grievance Procedure provides machinery for the resolution of grievances for teachers in schools.
Complaints
There are two factors to consider in relation to a complaint, viz:
- The immediate problem;
- Underlying causes.
The school representative will have to decide which of these it is most important to deal with. It is often easier to get a settlement on an individual case without drawing attention to broader issues. The representative will have to decide which to emphasise, bearing in mind the strengths of the case and the importance of the issue when the case is taken up. It is important to remember that negotiations on an individual case can affect other workers, or future negotiations, by setting a precedent. Because of this the school representative
should consult others and take advice from Branch Officers, Northern Committee representatives or Northern Office.
Can It Be Settled Locally?
This question depends largely on the issue involved. It is always desirable to settle issues at local level.
Relevant Agreements
When dealing with a problem, the school representative should refer to existing agreements as:
- An existing agreement may provide a procedure for handling a problem;
- Management may have broken an agreement so the representative should try to get the agreement honoured;
- There may not be a written agreement which covers the problem so it may be desirable to seek a settlement of this case without raising wider issues;
- If there is no written agreement, or the agreement is unclear, then custom and practice may support the case. Your Northern Committee Representative can advise as to how similar cases have been settled in the past.
The representative should always check and seek the advice of the Northern Committee representatives on written and informal agreements before taking up a problem with management.
INTO Policies
When dealing with members’ problems, cognisance should always be taken of INTO policies. It is important to check the relevant policies and bring them to the attention of the member or members concerned.
Branch officers, Area or District representatives or Northern Office will advise and assist where necessary.
Legal Rights and Assistance
In some cases, the member will have legal rights which could affect the settlement of the problem.
Some examples of areas in which legal rights may apply are:
- Maternity leave.
- Dismissals.
- Discrimination.
Legal rights are a minimum on which unions build. Most rights at work are best enforced through negotiation and union action. If the school representative believes that a member requires legal advice or assistance, the member should be advised to contact their Northern Committee representative or Northern Office.
The INTO Rules outline the qualifications which are necessary for a grant for legal expenses from INTO funds and the conditions to be fulfilled.
Download our 10 Good Reasons to be Part of the INTO flyer / poster (pdf)
Why Recruit?
The INTO's strength lies in our membership - the larger our membership the stronger we are in serving teachers and representing the views of the profession. Our position of strength is contingent on the recruitment of new members into the organisation.
School Representatives are KEY to recruitment
Direct recruiting of another member of staff is not always an easy task. The following suggestions may help:
- Introduce yourself to new teachers. Outline your role and explain that you are there to offer help and advice.
- Advise new teachers on the benefits of INTO membership and other conditions of service.
- New teachers should be advised of special meetings for them.
- They should be directed to join online via the website. Please ensure you follow-up to confirm they have completed both steps of the 2-step registration process.
- New members should be invited to Branch Meetings and the procedures explained to them.
PLEASE APPROACH ALL NEW MEMBERS OF STAFF AND
INVITE THEM TO JOIN INTO
Check out the latest School Reps Recruitment Promotion
Membership Special Offers
- All New Joiners get their first 3 months of membership for FREE
- Supply Teachers ONLY pay for the days they work
- All NQTs get up to their first year of membership immediately following graduation for FREE (so the earlier they join the better)
- All student teachers get FREE membership for the duration of their studies
INTO Recruitment and Membership Packs
The days of posting out paper application forms are over! We want to encourage all new members to Join INTO Online - please feel free to forward potential new members links from our website:
Share our Members' Video Message to potential members telling them about what their INTO membership means to them:
All new members get an INTO New Member’s Pack with INTO information and merchandise.
As an elected representative of the union you have certain rights that have been agreed at Northern Ireland level. If you encounter any problems in connection with these, you should contact your Northern Committee Representative or Northern Office.
Please download the full Facilities Agreement Document below:
Election of a School Representative
School Representatives should be elected every year and existing Representatives are eligible for re-election. A meeting should be called of all INTO members at the start of the new school year.
Northern Office should be informed of the election results by returning the School Representatives Pro-Forma below as soon as possible.
Status of the School Representative
An accredited School Representative is an elected representative of INTO. The INTO provides each School Representative with written credentials which set out:
- The school the appointment covers;
- The duties of the School Representative.
The Accreditation Certificate bears the authorizing signature of the Northern Secretary. The School Representative should always be aware that in the carrying out of these duties she/he is acting on behalf of INTO and that management must recognize her/him as the representative of INTO members in the school.
Accreditation
Northern Office issues the School Representative with the following:
- Accreditation Letter;
- School Representatives’ information material.
Welcome to the School Representatives’ section of our website.
The School Representative is an important role. You will see that your members are kept up to date with the latest educational news and will ensure their rights are protected – all with the full support and backing of INTO Northern Office.
If you are interested in this important role, watch our short animation on Becoming a School Representative to find out more:
This section contains information and resources designed to assist you in your role: