England’s school staff asked to vote on effect of cuts

UNISON will hold consultative ballot on employment issues arising from central government reductions in school funding

School support staff in England will be asked whether they are prepared to take industrial action over the way central government cuts are affecting their jobs and employment.

UNISON will hold an on-line indicative ballot in January, asking school workers across England about the issue. Education is a devolved issue in Cymru/Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.

“The ballot gives us an opportunity to get into schools and raise funding concerns with members,” says national secretary Jon Richards. “The employment issues they face are linked to cuts in funding and that is why we are conducting the ballot.”

In the run-up to the January ballot, UNISON branches are being asked to encourage as many members as possible to add email records to their membership records.

As the ballot could lead to a formal industrial action vote, depending on the result, Mr Richards stressed: “It is important that we get as high a turnout as possible.”

Fellow education unions ASCL, NAHT and the NEU are currently running similar ballots.