Violence in schools is no laughing matter

Commenting on remarks made by education secretary Gillian Keegan today (Friday) about ‘punching’ Ofsted inspectors, UNISON head of education Mike Short said:

“Clearly there’s much that can and should be improved about the way Ofsted inspections are carried out. But to suggest punching people is an appropriate reaction is not becoming of a government minister.

“Making light of violence when staff in schools are increasingly likely to face assaults is in very poor taste. Ofsted inspectors are already dealing with a great deal of hostility while they work. So much for showing respect.”

Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk

The article Violence in schools is no laughing matter first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Violence in schools is no laughing matter

Commenting on remarks made by education secretary Gillian Keegan today (Friday) about ‘punching’ Ofsted inspectors, UNISON head of education Mike Short said:

“Clearly there’s much that can and should be improved about the way Ofsted inspections are carried out. But to suggest punching people is an appropriate reaction is not becoming of a government minister.

“Making light of violence when staff in schools are increasingly likely to face assaults is in very poor taste. Ofsted inspectors are already dealing with a great deal of hostility while they work. So much for showing respect.”

Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk

The article Violence in schools is no laughing matter first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Pupils face schools turmoil over government’s inaction on building safety, says UNISON

Responding to the announcement today (Thursday) that pupils at dozens of schools are to be told to stay away over building structural safety fears, UNISON head of education Mike Short said: “This situation is nothing short of a scandal.

“The DfE and government have squandered valuable months hiding this crisis when they should have been fixing dangerous school buildings.

“The schools minister even broke his own promise to publish information about at-risk properties before parliament’s summer recess.

“Parents, pupils and staff will be relieved the issue is finally being taken seriously. But to wait until the eleventh hour as schools are preparing for a new academic year will create turmoil for thousands of families. And this could just be the tip of the iceberg.”

Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contact:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Fatima Ayad M: 07508 080383 E: f.ayad@unison.co.uk

The article Pupils face schools turmoil over government’s inaction on building safety, says UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Pupils face schools turmoil over government’s inaction on building safety, says UNISON

Responding to the announcement today (Thursday) that pupils at dozens of schools are to be told to stay away over building structural safety fears, UNISON head of education Mike Short said: “This situation is nothing short of a scandal.

“The DfE and government have squandered valuable months hiding this crisis when they should have been fixing dangerous school buildings.

“The schools minister even broke his own promise to publish information about at-risk properties before parliament’s summer recess.

“Parents, pupils and staff will be relieved the issue is finally being taken seriously. But to wait until the eleventh hour as schools are preparing for a new academic year will create turmoil for thousands of families. And this could just be the tip of the iceberg.”

Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contact:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Fatima Ayad M: 07508 080383 E: f.ayad@unison.co.uk

The article Pupils face schools turmoil over government’s inaction on building safety, says UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.

UNISON lobbies Church of England leaders over pay

UNISON campaigners spent a frosty morning lobbying Church of England leaders over pay, before a meeting of the General Synod in Westminster, last week.

They urged clergy, who were about to debate the cost of living crisis, to raise the issue of catering staff, cleaners and caretakers being paid less than the real living wage in church schools.

UNISON and Church Action on Poverty are jointly campaigning for the Church of England to take urgent action.

In December, UNISON wrote to the heads of the Church of England and Catholic Church asking them to honour their promises to pay at least the real living wage to the lowest paid staff in more than 6,800 church schools in England and Wales.

The letters to the Archbishops of Canterbury, York and Westminster warned that thousands of these employees face “devastating financial hardship” unless churches follow through on a pledge made more than a decade ago. UNISON analysis of the Living Wage Foundation’s website suggests fewer than 50 Catholic and Church of England school employers are accredited for paying the real living wage. 

Additional UNISON research shows just over half (55%) of church secondary and primary schools say they are paying the real living wage to their directly employed staff. Only three in 10 (30%) were requiring their contractors to pay this rate.

In 2012, the churches committed that all their institutions would pay at least the living wage and worked with UNISON to produce step-by-step action plans.

Church school staff should now all be getting at least £10.90 an hour (or £11.95 in London) under the current real living wage rates; however thousands of school support staff working in church schools are not – with low wages leading to staff leaving the education sector for better wages elsewhere.  

UNISON also wants all staff working for private contractors delivering services to schools to receive at least the real living wage, as well as full sick pay like their directly employed colleagues. This requires the churches to ensure that schools draw up timetables to become accredited living wage employers. 

Mike Short, UNISON head of education, said: “The cost of living crisis is having a devastating impact on low-paid workers. Staff need action with a proper wage boost, not just supportive words. 

Churches do important work supporting their local communities by providing practical assistance. But they must also make sure their staff receive fair pay. It’s the church’s moral responsibility to make sure employees don’t have to choose between feeding their families or heating their homes this winter.”

The article UNISON lobbies Church of England leaders over pay first appeared on the UNISON National site.