Government ‘short-changing’ nurses on education and training, says UNISON ahead of Westminster debate

UNISON is urging MPs to highlight the urgent need for substantial investment in education and training for nurses and other healthcare staff.   The call comes ahead of a special debate later today (Wednesday) in Parliament on the future of nurse education funding that, the union says, has been severely hit by cuts.   The […]

Older workers deserve access to training, says UNISON

UNISON urges the government to enforce the recommendations in the House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee report swiftly.

National Careers Week – the lost art of giving good guidance

It’s National Careers Week – but thanks to years of government cuts, careers advice at school isn’t what it used to be. UNISON thinks young people deserve a better start to their working life

UK’s largest academy trust’s caretaker cuts pose serious risk to pupils, say unions

Some schools face losing 50% of caretaking staff under an academy chain’s ‘controversial’ plans released today (Tuesday). Education unions have issued a warning over plans by London-based Academies Enterprise Trust (AET) to slash £1.4 million from its schools’ estates budgets. Under the plan AET is proposing to cut the number of buildings and estates staff in […]

Derby school support staff vote ends 10-month dispute, says UNISON

Derby school support staff have voted overwhelmingly (nine to one) to accept the council’s latest offer, ending a 10-month dispute over pay and working time, says UNISON. Derby City Council had imposed changes last June that meant staff lost up to £6,000 a year, as their contracts were reduced from 52 to 44.5 weeks. Their […]

‘Fair funding’ must also mean sufficient funding, say education unions

Organisations representing school staff, teachers and leaders – ATL, GMB, NAHT, NUT, UNISON and Unite – have updated the schoolcuts.org.uk website after publication of the government’s final National Funding Formula proposals to reflect the funding losses facing each school in England

Typical classroom scene where an audience of school children

School funding cuts could deny children a decent future says UNISON

Responding to government plans to reform school funding UNISON head of education Jon Richards said: “Schools that are already underfunded will get much less than they’d hoped for. “Other highly rated schools in better resourced areas will see their budgets cut further still to fund those currently failing. “Good education doesn’t come cheap. Schools need […]

UNISON calls for council oversight of academy school finances

Friday 26 August 2016 For immediate release Responding to the Local Government Association call for councils to have oversight of academy school finances, UNISON national secretary for education Jon Richards said: “UNISON has raised cases of suspected financial irregularity with the Department for Education, Education Funding Agency and the National Audit Office, all of which […]

UNISON welcomes government’s academies climbdown

Commenting on the news today (Friday) that the government has abandoned its plans to force all maintained schools still linked to local authorities to become academies, UNISON head of education Jon Richards said: “It’s reassuring that ministers have listened to the many arguments put to them and decided against pursing their ill-thought-out plans to force […]

Academy chain job cuts are a lesson in how not to manage schools, says UNISON

Commenting on the decision today (Thursday) by the Academies Transformation Trust (ATT) to announce jobs cuts and a major restructuring across its secondary and primary schools in the East and West Midlands, and the East of England, UNISON head of education Jon Richards said: “This decision has come as a bolt from the blue, and […]

Typical classroom scene where an audience of school children

Schools face exodus of support staff over workload stress, says UNISON survey

More than half (52%) of school support staff across the UK have experienced stress, anxiety or depression as they struggle to cope with their workloads, according to a new survey published today (Tuesday) by UNISON. Two-fifths (41.5%) of those who took part in the survey said they had difficulty in completing their work, and more […]

Apply now for help with study costs

If you are thinking of doing some trade union-related studying, UNISON can help with your course costs. But you only have until 31 July to apply

UNISON welcomes free school meals for England’s infants

‘Hot, healthy, nutritious’ school meals are key to a child’s development, says union

Branches take the opportunity to promote adult learning

his week is Adult Learners’ Week, an annual opportunity to celebrate the value and pleasure of getting back into learning as an adult

A big week for adult learners in the West Midlands

During Adult Learners Week more than 50 UNISON branches have arranged over 90 learning events across the West Midlands region