Derby and Durham school support staff bring inspiration

Faced with huge cuts to their pay, these UNISON members fought back

UNISON sign at the union's centre in London

UNISON prepares for a campaigning year

First NEC of 2017 covers campaigning to defend the NHS, anti-Trump protests, industrial action and preparations for national delegate conference

Eric Roberts, UNISON President, at the UNISON National Delegate Conference

NEC pays tribute to Eric Roberts

‘We should make Eric proud by continuing on in the union – let’s make and keep this the best union’

Durham teaching assistants strike suspended to allow time for talks

Three days strike action this week (6 – 8 December) by Durham teaching assistants have been called off to allow time for further talks aimed at settling the dispute, says UNISON. The union is keen for urgent progress to end the long-running dispute with the county council over the proposed move to term-time contracts. But […]

UNISON suspends today’s teaching assistants’ strike action

Strike action involving teaching assistants that was due to affect schools across County Durham today (Thursday) has been called off

An important step in the fight to protect Durham teaching assistants

There’s still plenty of work to do in the weeks ahead to make sure teaching assistants don’t lose out – but we’re pleased that Durham council has heard the voices of TAs and parents alike

Schools to close as Durham teaching assistants take second two-day strike action

More than 100 primary schools across County Durham will be affected tomorrow (Wednesday) and Thursday as teaching assistants strike for a second time in a long-running dispute over cuts to their pay. School support staff plan to protest at dozens of picket lines across the county over the two days. This will mean the closure […]

On a challenging day, Durham TAs show that there’s so much to fight for

We face huge challenges on so many fronts. At times they can seem insurmountable. But today let’s remember what we stand for. And why we must keep fighting all of those challenges that still lie ahead of us.

‘We will fight and we will win’ Prentis tells Durham strike rally

General secretary pledges support as 1,200 Co Durham teaching assistants rally on second day of strike

National hardship fund for Durham dispute

UNISON has today (Monday) authorised a national hardship fund to ensure that no teaching assistants on strike in Durham suffer financial hardship. The fund, made up of an initial £150,000 will be administered by the union’s northern region. UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: “Today I have personally authorised £150,000 from the union’s industrial action […]

Schools closed as Durham teaching assistants take two-day strike action

Nearly 100 primary schools across County Durham will be affected tomorrow (Tuesday) and Wednesday as teaching assistants strike in a long-running dispute over cuts to their pay. School support staff plan to protest at dozens of picket lines across the county over the two days. This will mean the closure of some schools completely, says […]

Durham teaching assistants to take two days of strike action, announces UNISON

Monday 31 October 2016 For immediate release Teaching assistants in Durham will take strike action on 8 and 9 November in the long-running dispute over cuts to their pay, their union UNISON has announced today (Monday). This follows a ballot over Durham County Council plans to move teaching assistants to term-time pay. This could see […]

Durham teaching assistants back strike action, announces UNISON

Durham teaching assistants have voted overwhelmingly for strike action in the long-running dispute over cuts to their pay, their union UNISON has announced today (Wednesday). UNISON held a ballot over Durham County Council plans to move teaching assistants to term-time pay. This could see school support staff lose up to 23% of their wages. The […]

Together we can end the injustice of massive pay cuts for those who care for our kids

I will be back in Durham, joining the picket lines on the first day of industrial action and I know the whole of our union will give their support and solidarity to Durham members as they have to members in Derby.

Durham teaching assistants hold rally as strike ballot enters final week

Durham teaching assistants – who have just one week left to vote for strike action in the long-running dispute over cuts to their pay – are to hold a major rally today (Thursday). Durham County Council is proposing to move teaching assistants to term-time pay, and extend the working week without paying for any extra […]