UNISON is the largest trade union for staff in schools. Our members include teaching assistants, nursery staff, administrators, secretaries, policy officers, technicians, cleaners, caretakers, school meals workers - in fact anyone working in schools or supporting education.
A Steward in Every School
UNISON have launched a campaign to recruit a steward or named contact in every school. It is vitally important that school staff are supported and represented by stewards who are on site. If you become a steward you have rights to time off for training and will become part of a group helping to build an effective campaigning union.
(20/05/11) Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Education wants every 'Outstanding' school to become an Academy.
UNISON believes academies will create a two tier education system where the better off are concentrated in academies and our most vulnerable children, often from socially deprived backgrounds, remain in LA schools with less funding.
Academies are funded by the taxpayer but are not at all accountable to the local community.
Academies can determine pay and conditions - they can change, for example, your pay, holiday and the length of the school day.
Academies are basically a way of privatising the education system via the back door.
There is no 'new' money for academies; the money simply comes from the local authorities existing budget leaving schools outside of the academy system with less money.
Academies will only receive extra money in the short term. Staff, parents, pupils and local communities need to balance the short term gain against the break up of the current accountable education system.
If you hear that your school is considering acquiring academy status please contact the Branch as soon as possible.
A large part of this will include the Administration of Medicines (by school support staff).
While UNISON has no problem with policy's being improved we are deeply concerned the authority have already revised Job Descriptions for Teaching Assistants levels 1-4 to include the administration of medicines.
The new job descriptions have not been shared with UNISON and there will be no increase in rates of pay to reflect the high levels of responsibility and additional duties.
At present the administration of medicines, including procedures more associated with medical professionals, is voluntary.
If the council move to make this compulsory UNISON will rigorously defend our member's rights.
If you are being put under pressure to administer medicines or carry out medical procedures please do not hesitate to contact UNISON.
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