Our members include librarians, registrars, people working in personnel, IT and finance departments, teaching assistants, technicians, early years (nursery) staff, policy advisors, administrators, secretaries, cleaners, caretakers, school meals workers, craft workers, porters working in schools, children's services, colleges and universities.
JUAC calls for transparency as confusion and concern continues at Cwmcarn
In October 2012 asbestos fibres were found in warm air cabinet heaters in Cwmcarn High School, Caerphilly, and, in subsequent tests, carried out by HSE appointed experts, it was found that asbestos fibres were being released from the school’s heaters into the classrooms.
Save Our Sure Start campaign
UNISON is working with the Daycare Trust to save our Sure Start Children's Centres. Reductions in central government funding and the removal of the ring fence for Sure Start Centres are leading to cuts the services and the closure of some centres.The Careers Service in England Summary
In 2000 the Labour Government created Connexions partnerships to administer funding for information advice and guidance services. UNISON cautiously accepted the new Connexions service, recognising that the proposed model could be of enormous benefit to young people. However the promised staffing levels, resources and improved services never arrived. In the end the promised resources and staffing never appeared and staff were left to do the best they could in difficult circumstances, buffeted by changing demands and an agenda skewed by government targets.
FE College Employers Withdraw 0.5% Offer
At national pay talks (16 May) the AoC took their 0.5% or £150 pay offer off the table. This followed a tense meeting in which they refused to make any further offer unless unions agreed to a statement endorsing local talks over changes to working conditions and specifically arrangements for the progression of staff through pay scales.
Pay 2013/14
The first full meeting of New JNCHES to discuss the TU side Pay Claim 2013/14 took place on 23 April. UNISON and the other HE unions had previously presented our joint claim for 2013/14.
The claim called for:
- A percentage increase on all pay spine points of at least RPI (Feb 2013 RPI was 3.2%) on all salary points plus an additional percentage increase to start to address the real term reduction in pay over the last four years.
- Low Pay – to address the issue of low pay in the higher education sector by achieving a ‘living wage’ for all staff. This should be achieved through the removal of the bottom two spine points on the national pay spine.
- London Weighting – An increase in the minimum allowance to £4000.
- Positive proposals from UCEA on a range of equalities issues
Joint Trade Union Side Pay Claim for 2013 – 2014
This is a joint Trade Union Side (TUS) pay claim on behalf of, FDA PCS and UNISON for the year 2013 – 2014.Pay Matters Members Urged to Take Action Now
The latest news including the latest updates, bulletins, campaign materials and links to how you can contact your local councillor to tell them how the pay cuts affect you and your service can be found from this link.
http://www.unison.org.uk/localgov/paycampaign.asp
Pay 2012/13
UNISON has submitted a claim for support staff to the Sixth Form Colleges employers for 2012/13.
The claim calls for:
- A substantial increase on all salary scales with a minimum increase of £250 for all staff
- A review of the support staff salary spine
- An additional day’s leave for all support staff
Following last year’s pay freeze, it is vital that there is a pay increase for support staff if they are not to suffer further falls in their standard of living. Whilst we appreciate that we remain in a difficult funding situation in many colleges, an increase for support should be a priority. Increases in the cost of food and energy costs have a disproportionate impact on the lower paid and this needs to be addressed in college pay policy.
UNISON is meeting with the Sixth Form College Forum on 19 September to discuss the claim and we will report any developments.
National Representatives for Sixth Form College Staff
The nomination period for national representatives for sixth form colleges to the UNISON Further Education and Sixth Form Colleges Forum will open shortly. There are three reserved seats on the committee for representatives of sixth form colleges. The representatives also sit on the national negotiating committee for sixth form college staff. We currently have vacancies on the national negotiating committee. To be eligible, you must be a UNISON member employed in a sixth form college. If you are interested in standing for these posts or would like further information, please contact b.thomas@unison.co.ukhref="mailto:b.thomas@unison.co.uk">b.thomas@unison.co.uk>
