ABSTRACT
Most teachers alleged to be incompetent turn to their union. They have joined a teacher association partly to be protected and supported by it, should they ever encounter problems. There are few problems more pressing than a threat to their livelihood, so aggrieved teachers expect their union to back them strongly. Unions may be viewed differently by the various constituencies involved in incompetence cases, however. Many head teachers said, in the national survey, that they were apprehensive about them, worried they would be exposed if they took a wrong step during the procedures.
