During 2004, AUT's council and NATFHE's conference decided to explore ways of achieving maximum unity between the two unions, through the formation of a new union for further and higher education.

AUT's national executive agreed on Friday 10 March 2005 to endorse the proposed rules and objectives of a new union formed from AUT and NATFHE members. In a joint statement Sally Hunt, general secretary AUT and Paul Mackney, general secretary NATFHE said: 'We firmly believe that we need to create a stronger union now capable of defending and advancing our professional interests in an insecure world, but the final decision about whether this happens rests with our members.'

This positive recommendation then went to AUT council - the union's delegate annual conference - on 21 April. AUT Council agreed the terms for the new union and the draft constitution on 21 April and to move to a ballot for a new union (see press release ).

NATFHE's executive agreed on Friday 29 April 2005 to recommend to its forthcoming national conference that the union's 68,000 members should be balloted on a merger with the Association of University Teachers (AUT). Members of the executive voted overwhelmingly in favour of the motion recommending a merger ballot (see press release ), as did NATFHE's national conference in Eastbourne, on 28 May 2005 (see press release ).

Following a further round of talks in July, the negotiators approved the process to put the proposals in the appropriate form to the Certification Officer, with a view to conducting a member ballot in October/November. The precise dates are dependent on how quickly the two unions get approval to proceed from the Certification Officer. Further details will be made available during September.

You can download the draft constitution & rules for the new union (latest version, dated 1 August 2005) and a NATFHE commentary (written to refer to an earlier version, but still relevant), a draft instrument of amalgamation and elements of standing orders for the new union as Word documents.

2004 AUT COUNCIL AND NATFHE CONFERENCE

• Resolutions: AUT , NATFHE (Word docs)