- Conference
- 2023 National Local Government Service Group Conference
- Date
- 1 June 2023
- Decision
- Carried
Conference is aware of the escalating levels of cuts in education in Northern Ireland. UNISON members are facing the severe impact of an imposed budget by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland . More than 70 million pounds has been slashed from immediate spending. This follows on from a previous demand that £200 million in savings be reached in the last quarter of 2022.
Conference notes the hard facts are that:
Holiday hunger payments are axed
Extended school programmes withdrawn
25% of the budget for youth services deleted
Special needs budget cut by 15%
Shared education projects funding cut by 50%
Schools estate capital and maintenance programme cut by 50%.
The impact on UNISON members’ families will be severe. The impact on members’ terms and conditions and job security will worsen as these cuts are rolled out.
Conference acknowledges the call from all trade unions that the power sharing devolved government be restored without further delay.
Conference calls on the Service Group Executive to support our members’ resistance to these cuts in the coming months.
Conference further calls on the Service Group Executive to send a message of solidarity from this conference to our UNISON members in local government and education in Northern Ireland .