The first major new negotiating body to be set up in the public sector for around thirty years, has been given the royal assent today (12 November).
Around 700,0000 teaching assistants, nursery staff, administrators, secretaries, policy officers, technicians, cleaners, special needs staff, caretakers and school meals workers are covered by the new body, which provides national guidelines for their pay and conditions.
Christina McAnea, Head of Education for UNISON, which represents more than 250,000 school workers, welcomed the new body saying: