Members secure paid leave for fertility treatment

NEU members at Oasis Community Learning (OCL) multi-academy trust have negotiated a game-changing policy to support those who are going through fertility treatment.

This victory was the result of a grassroots campaign by Oasis members supported by staff from the NEU’s organising and bargaining teams.

Emma Addis, an NEU member in Oasis Academy Putney who sought help from the union in securing support for her fertility treatment, said: “My head teacher was supportive, but his hands were tied by the existing trust policy which only gave provision for ‘reasonable unpaid time off’.

“Once we started this conversation through the union, and opened it up to other members, we quickly realised that it is an issue that affects so many others, mainly but not exclusively women.”

NEU Oasis co-lead reps Maria Roberts and Rob Owen welcomed the new policy: “Many of us will have gone through fertility treatment of some form, or will know others who have, in the pursuit of a family, and will know the emotional, financial and physical toll it can take.”

The new policy provides up to 12 days of paid leave for those undergoing treatment and three days for those supporting a partner.

Maria and Rob added: “It also accepts the needs for flexibility and support to make work accessible and safe for those going through fertility treatment. As far as we are aware no other education employer has a