PROPOSALS for closer working between teachers’ unions and a possible merger of NUT and ATL moved a step closer to reality yesterday.

In private session, teaching union NUT’s conference heard a motion on “professional unity” calling for the building of “a new union fit for the 21st century.”

An amendment from the Brent division called on the NUT executive to move towards a secret postal ballot of members “if and when it is satisfied that a proposed agreement has been reached that meets the essential requirements set.”

Brent activist Hank Roberts, a delegate at the NUT conference and past ATL president, has been calling for professional unity for a number of years.

It is thought that motions may be brought to the NUT and ATL conferences next year calling for such ballots on a form of formal unity.

The other major teaching union, NASUWT, has not been involved in these discussions.

At a fringe meeting on the subject on Saturday evening, NUT executive member Gawain Little said there had been a “real shift” in discussions “from whether we need unity to how that can be achieved.”

He said: “Despite our many successes we have not been able to provide the authoritative voice of education professionals.”

The meeting was also addressed by ATL deputy general secretary Peter Pendle, who said that his union was having a “serious look” at what closer working would mean.

He said that ATL would “go back to our conference with some proposals.”