With more than 350,000 members, UNISON represents more education staff than any other trade union in the UK.
We campaign against inequality, challenge unfair pay and speak out on work issues and the quality of public services.
About
Education members include employees from schools and academies, further education colleges, universities, early years and children’s services, career services and more. Find out the issues we face and the benefits of being a UNISON member.
Key issues
This section is about the key issues affecting people employed in education services. Each key issue explains the facts behind the issue, what UNISON is doing and how you can get involved. You will also find news articles, useful resources and events.
Resources
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A5 Paper bags with Stars In Our Schools branding
6 September 2016
A5 ‘Stars’ branded paper bags. 200 max per branch – or talk to Jon Besserman to discuss plans: stockorders@unison.co.uk
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Stars In Our Schools 2016 Postcard
5 September 2016
A6 postcards promoting Stars in Our Schools on 25 November. Please do not order one per member but use selectively at events, in schools on notice boards etc. Max order 300 or talk to Jon Besserman on 020 7121 5481.
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Stars in our schools badges
5 September 2016
Star in my school, purple and gold badge, 45mm.
Order by 19 October direct from TC branding. Call 01844 275 700 or email unison@tc-group.co.uk to discuss your order. Price on application. -
I’m a Star in my school sticker
5 September 2016
Stars in our schools stickers
“I’m a Star In My School”
16 stickers per sheet. 20 sheets max. -
Squeezy gold star stress toy Stars in our Schools
5 September 2016
Squeezy gold star stress toy for Stars in our Schools. Order by 19 October direct from TC branding. Call 01844 275700 or email unison@tc-group.co.uk to discuss your order. Price on application.
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Stars in our schools 2016 Branded pen
5 September 2016
Stars in our schools pen. Order by 19 October direct from TC branding. Call 01844 275700 or email unison@tc-group.co.uk to discuss your order. Price on application.
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Branded 6” ruler with circular end for Stars in our Schools.
5 September 2016
Branded 6” ruler with circular end for Stars in our Schools, with join UNISON details. Order by 19 October direct from TC branding. Call 01844 275 700 or email unison@tc-group.co.uk to discuss your order. Price on application.
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Stars in our schools Mug
5 September 2016
Stars in our schools mugs.
Order by 19 October direct from TC branding. Call 01844 275700 or email unison@tc-group.co.uk to discuss your order. Price on application. -
Stars in our schools A5 pad
5 September 2016
Stars in our schools A5 notepads.
Order by 19 October direct from TC branding. Call 01844 275700 or email unison@tc-group.co.uk to discuss your order. Price on application. -
Stars in our schools celebration day 2016 Cotton bag
5 September 2016
Stars in our schools cotton bags.
Order by 19 October direct from TC branding. Call 01844 275700 or email unison@tc-group.co.uk to discuss your order. Price on application. -
Stars In Our Schools drinks mat
5 September 2016
Stars In Our Schools drinks mat.
100 max per branch. Organisers/regions wanting larger quantities contact Jon Besserman:stockorders@unison.co.uk -
Stars In Our Schools pencils
5 September 2016
Stars In Our Schools pencils.
Order by 19 October direct from TC branding. Call 01844 275 700 or email unison@tc-group.co.uk to discuss your order. Price on application. -
Stars in our Schools 2016 branded material pdf
31 August 2016
Visual of all items available for the 2016 Stars In Our Schools celebration day (25 November). With ordering details.
There are also downloadable resources at StarsInOurSchools.uk -
Stars In Our Schools 2016 poster
31 August 2016
Stars In Our Schools 2016 poster.
Pdf only. -
Vote yes for strike action HE pay dispute poster 2016. BILINGUAL WELSH/ENGLISH
30 August 2016
Poster for HE branches to use to advertise the pay ballot and the vote yes message
BILINGUAL WELSH/ENGLISH. PDF download only. -
Why you deserve a decent pay rise – HE bilingual leaflet.
17 August 2016
Bilingual Welsh/English version of the “Why you deserve a pay rise in higher education”. 2016 pay campaign. Pdf only
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Stars In Our Schools 2016 Mailing to head teachers
10 August 2016
Letter/A4 poster for headteachers promoting the schools celebration day on 25 November. For organising. Max 100 – NOT TO BE MAILED to individuals but for face-to-face work only.
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Model Agreement on Organisational Change
13 July 2016
This is a joint model agreement for use by branches and college reps dealing with Area Reviews, mergers, shared services, restructuring and redundancies.
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Employment of black workers in local government and community schools
15 June 2016
Research on the employment of black workers in local government and community schools in Wales and England
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Professional standards for teaching assistants
10 June 2016
Advice for headteachers, teachers, teaching assistants, governing boards and employers.
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Fair Pay in Further Education – joint union poster
23 May 2016
Joint union poster – Fair pay in further education
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Fair Pay in Further Education – joint union leaflet
23 May 2016
Joint union leaflet – Fair pay in further education
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If your school is forced to become an academy… What it could mean for you A5 leaflet
6 April 2016
If your school is forced to become an academy…
What it could mean for you
A5 leaflet aimed at school support staff -
Higher Education – how to use our campaign materials
2 March 2016
Step-by-step guide to using our higher education campaign materials
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Higher education – invest in me – write your own sign
29 February 2016
Printable ‘invest in me’ sign. Write on your own words, take a photo, tweet it to us @UNISONinHE
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Higher education editable social media powerpoint slide
22 February 2016
Higher education editable POWERPOINT SLIDE “Invest in my university – invest in me”. Download and edit in Powerpoint to add your personal message to our bricks and mortar graphic, save as a jpg, and post on social media.
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Higher education editable social media jpeg
16 February 2016
Higher education editable JPEG graphic “Invest in my university – invest in me”. Use your preferred photo editing tool (such as Pixlr) to add your personal message to our bricks and mortar graphic and post on social media.
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Heart my workplace photo board
8 February 2016
Heart UNISON Heart my workplace photo boards – take photos and post them online to show you heart UNISON and your workplace. Download only
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Higher Education Annual Report 2016
28 January 2016
2016 Annual Report for the Higher Education Service Group
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FE Pay Campaign Bulletin
15 October 2015
The Association of Colleges (AoC) 2015 recommendation to its members not to pay a cost of living rise or move to the current Living Wage has been met with angry rejection by UNISON members. In workplace consultation, 95 per cent of those voting rejected the offer, with twice as many colleges participating as last year. This is the first rejection of a pay offer since 2002.
The bulletin provides further information and should be circulated widely to members and potential members.
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Are you ready for professional registration? – Leaflet
25 September 2015
Are you registered? Leaflet for school learning support staff in Wales setting out the benefits of UNISON in the run-up to compulsory registration with the EWC.
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Consultation on exit payments cap – UNISON’s response
24 September 2015
UNISON’s response to the HM Treasury Consultation on a Public Sector Exit Payment Cap, 2015.
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150922-Ed-TACareerCover
23 September 2015
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Joint Agreement on Guidelines for Parental Leave in FE
22 September 2015
Joint Agreement on Guidelines for Parental Leave in further education.
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Joint AoC and unions statement on shared services 21 Dec 11
22 September 2015
This is a useful joint statement on good practice when negotiating shared services in Further Education.
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Guide to College Finance in UK April 2015
22 September 2015
This provides college reps and UNISON organisers with a guide to understanding college finance which will be useful in challenging cuts and in negotiations.
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Joint Agreement for the Avoidance and Handling of Redundancies in FE – July 2015
22 September 2015
This is a joint agreement on the avoidance and handling of redundancies in FE (England).
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FE Joint Agreement on Equalities (England)
22 September 2015
Joint Agreement on Guidance on Equality in Employment in Further Education Colleges. Published May 2012.
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UNISON in Schools newsletter Autumn 2015
27 August 2015
UNISON in Schools newsletter. All the latest news for school staff, including Tax Credits, Stars in our Schools celebration plans and much more. Autumn 2015
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Further education notification of local pay offer England 2015
13 August 2015
For use by regions and branches where local pay settlements (England) have been agreed
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Five reasons why we are recommending rejection of the further education pay offer
13 August 2015
All-member bulletin for members and potential members in further education providing information on why we UNISON is recommending rejection of the FE pay offer (England) it for use by branches, regions and college reps
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23346.Stars in our schools celebration day badges
11 August 2015
Stars in our schools celebration day 2015
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Stars in our schools poster 2015
11 August 2015
Stars in Our Schools celebration day poster. Advertises the date (27 November) and information for the celebration day for school support staff. Max order: 100, minimum 5.
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Stars in our Schools: mailing to head teachers
11 August 2015
Stars in our Schools mailing to head teachers
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College Times pay bulletin
14 July 2015
This is an all-member bulletin for members working in FE(England) about the AOC pay offer. The recommendation is to reject the offer
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Dealing with health needs in schools
1 July 2015
Dealing with health needs in schools: A5 leaflet
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Briefing on Adult Education Funding Cuts for Branches 2015
12 June 2015
This provides information for branches on the lobby at Westminster taking place on 16 June 2015 against the cuts to adult education
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Managing Difficult Behaviour in Schools: A practical guide
28 April 2015
Managing Difficult Behaviour in Schools: A practical guide
16-page A4 booklet with accessible, practical advice for all those working in education settings -
Briefing and implementation plan for academy, trust and free schools
2 April 2015
The Living Wage: Briefing and implementation plan for academy, trust and free schools. Revised April 2015. A4 12 pages. Available as a download PDF only
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The Living Wage: A briefing and plan for implementation in Church of England schools
2 April 2015
The Living Wage: A briefing and plan for implementation in Church of England schools. Revised April 2015. A4 12 pages. Available as a PDF only.
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The Living Wage: A briefing and implementation plan for Catholic schools
2 April 2015
A guide to introducing the Living Wage in Catholic schools. Revised April 2015. A4 12 pages. Available as a PDF only.
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Joint union pay claim for further education colleges in England 2015
20 March 2015
This is the joint trade union pay claim for the further education college sector in England in 2015 and has been submitted to the national employers, the Association of Colleges
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Joint pay equality claim higher education 2015-16
20 March 2015
UNISON’s pay claim submitted to the employers for higher education support staff, for the period 2015-16, bases around equality issues
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Higher education joint pay claim 2015-16
20 March 2015
UNISON’s pay claim submitted to the employers for higher education support staff, for the period 2015-16
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Branch briefing on adult funding cuts for branches and college reps
20 March 2015
This is a briefing on how the cuts will damage adult education and the impact this will have on future of the sector it challenges the reasons given for the goods and is for use in political campaigning
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UNISON strikers with placards outside St Patrick’s High School in Keady Northern Ireland
19 March 2015
On strike with a message in Keady, County Armagh
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Print
6 March 2015
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5 March 2015
Dave Prentis meets school meals staff
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Preventing work-related mental health conditions: advice for school leaders
4 March 2015
This guide has been drawn up by the NUT with contributions and guidance from UNISON. It has been written for the school leadership team and we would recommend that this is brought to their attention by the trade union health and safety stewards
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Joint unions model pay claim – non NJC academies (Word)
18 February 2015
Most academies are party to or shadow National Joint council (NJC) pay agreements. However, a number of academies have indicated that they are no longer part of the NJC and decide their pay locally
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Joint unions model pay claim – non NJC academies (PDF)
18 February 2015
Most academies are party to or shadow National Joint council (NJC) pay agreements. However, a number of academies have indicated that they are no longer part of the NJC and decide their pay locally
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UNISON model pay claim – non NJC academies (Word)
18 February 2015
Most academies are party to or shadow National Joint council (NJC) pay agreements. However, a number of academies have indicated that they are no longer part of the NJC and decide their pay locally
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UNISON model pay claim – non NJC academies (PDF)
18 February 2015
Most academies are party to or shadow National Joint council (NJC) pay agreements. However, a number of academies have indicated that they are no longer part of the NJC and decide their pay locally
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UNISON IN COLLEGES SPRING 2015
11 February 2015
A colourful A4 newsletter aimed at informing and recruiting staff employed in further education. Spring 2015
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UNISON school support staff survey 2014 summary
28 November 2014
This report gives a summary of the biggest ever survey of school support staff
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26 November 2014
Photo: Marcus Rose
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2014-16 local government pay offer: letter to Sarah Messenger
20 November 2014
2014-16 local government pay offer – letter to Sarah Messenger
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LGS pay 2014-15-16: pay scales and allowances
20 November 2014
LGS 2014-15-16 pay scales and allowances
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Your rights as an apprentice – leaflet
19 November 2014
All your rights as an apprentice
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UNISON fighting redundancies in local government: a branch guide
22 October 2014
Guidance in facing redundancy in local government – PDF download only
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Factsheet on the Bradford Factor (sickness leave)
1 October 2014
Factsheet on the Bradford Factor for use in the campaign to challenge sickness absence for UNISON college reps, branches and regions
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Challenging attacks on sickness absence in further education: organising guide 2014
1 October 2014
Challenging attacks on sickness absence in further education: organising guide 2014
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UNISON toolkit on sickness absence
1 October 2014
UNISON toolkit on sickness absence for use by college reps, branches and regional officers to challenge attacks on sickness absence
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Many hands make lunch work
21 July 2014
UNISON guidance on changes to school food in England (2014).
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NJC pay 2014 – bilingual Strike leaflet for schools members for 10 July
2 July 2014
NJC pay 2014
Strike leaflet for schools members for 10 July
Bilingual Welsh & English
PDF ONLY -
Credit union promo leaflet
14 April 2014
For use in branches working with credit unions
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Promoting credit unions and campaigning around high cost credit – branch guide
14 April 2014
Advice for branches about how they can promote credit unions and campaign on high cost credit.
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Tips for organising in schools
12 March 2014
Handy guide to organising in schools: for reps and organisers
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LGPS governance changes…your pension fund needs you
14 February 2014
Leaflet calling for LGPS member representatives for pension boards. For targeted use with potential board members. Order min 20 and max 100.
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6 February 2014
Higher education members striking at Manchester Metropolitan University
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College staff – how to recruit guide
28 January 2014
A guide for members looking to recruit in colleges includes preparation points and conversation tips
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UNISON Guide to Disability Leave and Disability related Issues November 2013 (1) docx
14 November 2013
The guide contains advice and guidance on good practice including a model disability policy. The guide will be useful for branch secretaries,equality reps, stewards, regional reps and employers who want to put together a good disability policy and disability leave agreemenht
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TA campaign materials – powerpoint
6 November 2013
A template powerpoint for regions/branches to use as part of the campaign to speak up for teaching assistants
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Template letter to MPs about TA celebration day
6 November 2013
This template letter is for regions and branches to send to MPs to invite them to celebrate teaching assistants on 29 November
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Teaching assistants – a class act – UNISON speaking up for TAs – public facing leaflet
5 November 2013
Teaching assistants – a class act – UNISON speaking up for TAs. A5 public facing leaflet to promote the role of TAs.
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NUS and UNISON Report Living Wage in Higher Education Executive Summary
5 November 2013
The document contains information that can be used in campaigns on the living wage in Higher Education by branches, regional organisers
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Young workers – your wages your rights
22 October 2013
Young workers and the minimum wage. A5 leaflet with information on the basic employment rights. Of particular use to UNISON members working with young people in schools, colleges, careers services, youth services, leisure centres and through social services. Updated October 2013.
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Teaching assistants day campaign briefing
15 October 2013
Briefing for teaching assistants’ day
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Higher Education Role Analysis and Grade Drift
24 September 2013
From branch secretaries, stewards, equality reps and regional organisers
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Providing support for children and young people with health needs in schools –
10 September 2013
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Higher Education Conference Bulletin 2014
4 September 2013
This bulletin contains all the relevant information, travel forms etc for the conference.
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Essential cover for school support staff leaflet
19 August 2013
A5, schools support staff recruitment leaflet with application form.
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Disability Leave – Model Agreement
9 August 2013
Disabled workers face discrimination and disadvantage in the workplace and society. The skills and experience of disabled employees are highly valued and UNISON is committed to supporting disabled members by negotiating policies that remove barriers and tackle discrimination in the workplace
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Youth & community part-time working – time to know your rights at work factsheet
1 August 2013
This factsheet explains how part-time youth and community workers have the same statutory employment rights as any other employee
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Evident Value of Teaching Assistants
19 June 2013
Document for general public, branch and regional reps. useful tool to raise profile of teaching assistants and UNISON’s role as the union for education support workers
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A guide to equality in UNISON
13 June 2013
UNISON’s equalities agenda: how UNISON works to build equality into everything we do
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UNISON Higher Education Update on 2013/14 Pay Offer
6 June 2013
For branch secretaries and organisers to distribute to UNISON members on final pay offer
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Pensions Update for members in Higher Education
6 June 2013
Pensions update in higher education for regional officers and branch secretaries
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UNISON Consultation on Final Pay Offer HE/03/2013
6 June 2013
Higher Education Pay Campaign 2013 for branch secretaries for distribution to UNISON members in HE
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UCEA Final Pay Officer 2013 -14 (Higher Education Pay)
6 June 2013
Final pay offer, for branch secretaries,members and regional organisers
