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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

We will post more details when we can confirm implementation dates.

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

What is GDPR?

The GDPR is Europe's new framework for data protection laws. It replaces the previous 1995 data protection directive, which current UK law is based upon.

The new regulation starts on 25 May 2018. It will be enforced by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).

The Government has confirmed that the UK's decision to leave the European Union will not alter this.

What do I have to do now?

Many of the GDPR’s main concepts and principles are much the same as those in the current Data Protection Act (DPA). If you are complying properly with the current law then most of your approach to compliance will remain valid under the GDPR and can be the starting point to build from. However, there are new elements and significant enhancements, so you will have to do some things for the first time and some things differently.

More information about GDPR can be found at https://www.local.gov.uk/our-support/general-data-protection-regulation-gdpr We have also attached a helpful factsheet for schools.

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.