LOCAL GOVERNMENT PAY UPDATE    

  

Following extensive consultations with members UNISON has accepted the Local Government Association’s two-year pay offer to you covering the period April 2018 – March 2020. 

 

The key features of the pay offer are:

 

• 16% pay increase for those currently on the lowest scale point (scp) 6 over two years
• pay increase of between 15% and 4.3% for those on current scp’s 7 – 28
• 4.04% over two years for those above current scp 29 – including those above scp 49
• new pay spine from 2019, with new scale points 1-43 and even 2% pay gaps between scp’s 6-28

 

 

INTERNATIONAL WORKERS' MEMORIAL DAY

 

Workers' Memorial Day is held on 28 April every year, all over the world workers and their representatives conduct events, demonstrations, vigils and a whole host of other activities to mark the day.

 

Every year more people are killed at work than in wars. Most don't die of mystery ailments, or in tragic "accidents". They die because an employer decided their safety just wasn't that important a priority. Workers’ Memorial Day (WMD) commemorates those workers (www.tuc.org.uk).

 

In a recent UNISON survey, 88% of UNISON safety activists said that stress was within their top 5 concerns at work, with others also identifying overwork (66%) & long hours 51%.

 

Some members are particularly vulnerable because of their sexual orientation, gender identity/gender history, ethnic origin, or age. For others, their education, type of job, religion, or any disability could also place them at greater risk. For these groups it is more likely that an employer will try to take advantage of their vulnerability – with low pay, irregular hours, lack of training and development, or poor health and safety. They’re also more likely to get harmed, be made ill, or suffer from stress.

 

Your health and safety matters whoever you are and wherever you work, and UNISON makes a difference!

 

Schools in England are facing average cuts of 8% per pupil by 2020

 

Real-terms cuts to school funding since 2015 have led to a big reduction in the number of secondary teachers, teaching assistants and support staff in England, says research published in February by the School Cuts alliance of education unions.

 

The situation is likely to get even worse, as it’s predicted that 17,942 (nine out of ten) primary and secondary schools in England and Wales will be hit by a real-terms cut in funding per pupil between 2015-19.

 

Jon Richards, Head of Education at UNISON, said: “Job cuts are disproportionately affecting teaching assistants and support staff in schools across England. As a result there is now a staggering one teaching assistant for 67 pupils in secondary schools. Children with special educational needs and disabilities rely heavily on teaching assistants, so sadly they’ll be suffering the most as a result of these devastating staff cuts.

 

“The education system is buckling under the weight of funding cuts, which are driving away staff who haven’t already lost their jobs, and jeopardising our children’s future.”

 

UNISON Worcestershire is aware of many schools where Teaching Assistants posts are being cut and those remaining TAs are being asked to work above and beyond their contracts in order to provide cover. If you are a TA experiencing these kind of problems get in touch with one of our Branch Case Workers for a chat, phone 01905 26186.

 

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