Responding to a speech by shadow education spokesperson Angela Rayner MP at UNISON’s national women’s conference today (Thursday) in Bournemouth, UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: “UNISON welcomes Angie’s focus on the power of education to transform lives and help people, communities and society reach their full potential. “From early years to further and higher education, Angie has first-hand experience of how a system that’s open to all – regardless of income, post code, or contacts – can help individuals achieve personal, professional and economic success. “Her intimate understanding of the day-to-day struggles facing working people and their families is one of the many reasons UNISON is backing her to be Labour’s next deputy leader.”

Cleaning staff at City, University of London are celebrating after their union helped secure four additional days leave over the Christmas period for them. Before the deal staff working for outsourcing firm Julius Rutherfoord had no choice but to take unpaid or annual leave when the university closed over Christmas and New Year.   Employees were left out of pocket and working more days than staff directly employed by the university, who automatically receive extra leave to cover the Christmas break. In an open letter to the university’s president, UNISON highlighted the injustice and urged managers to treat outsourced staff as they do other employees. UNISON branch secretary Daniel Shannon-Hughes said: “The four extra days of holiday will make a big difference to the staff and their families. “This is just the beginning. More needs to be done to improve the situation for outsourced workers so they get the same pay, holiday and pension rights as directly employed staff. “Ultimately only by bringing staff back in house can City end these injustices.”

Almost a third of secondary school technicians (32%) think staff cuts are putting pupil safety at risk, according to a UNISON study published today (Friday).

UNISON has today (Wednesday) welcomed a decision by the Ormiston Academies Trust to drop plans to cut jobs across England, which it was feared could put the safety and support of pupils at primary and secondary schools at risk.

Cleaners, caterers and security guards at Birmingham University are celebrating after securing a pay rise following a series of campus strikes, UNISON announced today (Friday). Three days of strikes planned for Thursday 28, Friday 29 November and Monday 2 December have been cancelled. The decision follows a vote by staff to accept a pay offer of more than 4% for the lowest paid workers and 3% for the highest. Low-paid staff will receive an extra £817 a year with their hourly rate rising by 44p to £9.44. The increase will be backdated to 1 August 2019. The university pay offer exceeds the below-inflation 2% increase managers imposed on support staff last year, which originally sparked the dispute, says UNISON. UNISON head of education Jon Richards said: “At last university managers have recognised staff deserve a decent pay rise and that 2% was not a fair offer. “It’s a shame workers had to strike to get their voices heard. We hope we can work with the university to improve the pay and prospects of all staff over the longer term. “The award should also send a powerful message to the University and Colleges Employers Association that they need to make a decent pay offer to staff across the country.”