UNISON will sign a recognition agreement with Schools Co-operative Society today (9 September).
The agreement covers the Society•À_s members •À_ up to 150 co-operative schools across England. This number is expected to grow to 200 by the end of 2011. This makes the Co-operative network the third largest group, after the faith-based schools.
The majority of Co-operative schools are Trusts, with a small number of academies.
Dave Prentis, UNISON•À_s General Secretary, said:
“We welcome this agreement, as a demonstration of the commitment on both sides to positive, partnership working. The Schools Co-operative Society and UNISON share many common values and it is important that we work together to protect the terms and conditions of school support staff and to deliver quality education.
•À_We are particularly pleased that Co-operative schools will continue to abide by both national and local authority agreements for school support staff.
•À_The agreement acknowledges that UNISON and the Society have different policy positions on the issue of Community Schools. UNISON will continue to strongly oppose the government•À_s academies programme. •À_
Dave Boston, Chief Executive of the Schools Co-operative Society and former Head Teacher at Sir Thomas Boughey Co-operative Learning Trust, said:
•À_All co-operative schools work within a shared set of values that must impact on all aspects of the school•À_s life. For us the framework agreement is part of putting those values into practice and demonstrates our commitment to equality and equity, which mean fairness in the treatment of staff within the school, who we see as key stakeholders, who we wish to see involved in all aspects in the schools democratic and working life.
•À_We see Co-operative schools as providing new ways of strengthening community engagement and the schools•À_ roots with their communities. We recognise that it is only by all stakeholders working together can lasting improvements be made for the benefit of young people. This agreement reflects the key role that school support staff make and will encourage all schools within the network to continue to develop a strong partnership approach with them. We thank UNISON for the lead they have given in working with us on the agreement•À_.
Notes to editors:
The recognition agreement commits the Schools Co-operative Society and UNISON to producing a model national framework for the employment of school support staff. A National Joint Forum will consist of representatives from both the Co-operative Society and UNISON.
Co-op Schools are independent employers, but it is envisaged that they will all be part of the Co-operative Schools Society and abide by the national agreement.
UNISON is also in talks with the other TUC education unions over expanding the agreement to cover further school staff and teachers.