As part of our work in schools, UNISON has been making links with the main faith-run school organisations.
Over the past few months we have been in discussions with the Catholic Education Service (CES) – the part of the Catholic Church responsible for promoting and supporting Catholic education. The CES is not the employer, their role is to support Catholic Schools and Dioceses.
As a result of these discussions UNISON and the CES have agreed to work together to support and celebrate Catholic schools implementing the living wage.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales in November 2012 fully endorsed the principle of the Living Wage, and encouraged Catholic organisations and charities to work towards its implementation.
The bishops recognised that in-work poverty is currently a significant problem throughout England and Wales and noted that 60% of children in poverty grow up in a working household.
For over a century, Catholic social teaching has supported calls for a living wage and many local parishes and schools are at the forefront of community campaigns.
UNISON regions have each made contact with their local Catholic Dioceses requesting a meeting to discuss ways of working together to promote implementation of the Living Wage in all Catholic schools.
Regions will update branches and schools reps on these talks. Branches and school reps should now keep an eye out for the updates from their regions.
UNISON will be producing living wage materials for all school reps in time for the start of the new school year in September 2013.
We think this joint work is a really good opportunity to both secure the Living Wage for UNISON members and build our density in schools – there are 2,166 Catholic Schools across England and Wales.