Key question for smaller unions thinking of affiliating to the ICTU

AS an independent trade union, the ASTI achieved more for its members than the teacher unions that are affiliated to the ICTU.

Now, however, the ASTI plans to hold a ballot on whether or not to re-affiliate. In the meantime it will be informing its members about the advantages and disadvantages of re-affiliation. In this context I wish to raise an important question for all ASTI members (currently unaffiliated) and for other relatively small unions in a similar position. The answer may influence the outcome of the ASTI ballot.

The question is this: does the voting strength of a few very large affiliated unions still dominate the ICTU, or is there effective ‘power-sharing’ for relatively small affiliated unions?