UK’s biggest academy chain faces vote of no confidence from staff

Education unions representing staff at Academies Enterprise Trust (AET) – the largest academy chain in the UK – are today (Wednesday) launching a ballot asking if employees have confidence in the trust’s leadership.

The move comes after AET failed to listen to staff concerns over proposed cutbacks and restructuring. The changes will put the wellbeing of children and workers at serious risk, say the unions.

Last ditch talks between seven unions and AET to address concerns over a raft of cuts to services are currently taking place at conciliation service ACAS.*

However, unions say AET is attempting to sabotage the talks after the trust broke an agreement to pause changes while a resolution was sought.

The government has also been challenged by MPs at the Education Select Committee to publish details of the financial turnaround plan agreed between the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and the trust.**

Unions say the secretive nature of the deal calls into question what conditions AET has signed up to in return for millions of pounds of additional public funding.

UNISON head of education Jon Richards said: “AET agreed that restructuring should be paused until ACAS talks were concluded. But AET chose Easter Sunday to break this agreement and announce it would immediately push ahead with outsourcing.

“AET is demonstrating a total lack of respect for staff. Its actions are a fundamental breach of trust. UNISON now has no choice but to move to a vote of no confidence and consider options for further action.”

Deputy director of policy at the Association of School and College Leaders Sara Ford said: “We remain concerned that AET’s plans to outsource school services and significantly cut school support staff will leave schools without the level of support they need to be able to focus on what matters most – their pupils.

“Whilst we are fully aware of the financial pressures caused by the inadequacy of government funding, that does not excuse AET’s determination to rush these changes through without due regard for the consultation and conciliation processes, as this will only lead to an ill-conceived implementation which will not be in the best interests of the pupils, staff or trust.”

Joint general secretary of the National Education Union Dr Mary Bousted said: “We want AET to engage in meaningful talks at ACAS and respect the ‘status quo’ provision in our recognition agreement. Instead it confirmed the outsourcing of its ICT staff on Easter Sunday for the next working day.

“Teachers’ pay progression is one of the lowest in the sector and staff workload is a severe problem. Meanwhile AET chief executive Julian Drinkall is one of the highest paid MAT chief execs.

“Things can’t go on as they are. We’re asking members to show what they think of AET through a vote of no confidence in the board and chief executive.”

GMB national officer Sharon Wilde said: “AET is burying its head in the sand. They must acknowledge that these cuts will put staff and children’s health and safety at risk.

“The trust is pursuing a policy of outsourcing and cuts to a dangerous level, whilst creating an environment that is so stressful for staff it is literally making them ill, and this is not conducive to a calm and happy working environment in which children can learn.

“AET must now listen to staff concerns, and work with us to find an acceptable way forward.”

NAHT head of representation and bargaining John Hakes said: “AET’s approach to the outsourcing of IT and the almost cavalier approach to the review of other support services is deeply concerning. The lack of transparency in particular is very disappointing.

“School leaders believe the impact on their schools may be detrimental to the improvement of teaching and learning.”

Notes to editors:

• * These include the outsourcing of services, holding down of teacher pay progression, failure to tackle workloads, and further cuts to frontline school support staff.
• ** MP for Manchester Central Lucy Powell tabled a written question on 6 February 2019 to the Minister for Education and asked a number of questions at the Education Select Committee on Tuesday 30 April 2019.
• The seven unions involved are UNISON, GMB, Unite, ASCL, NAHT, NASUWT, and NEU.
• AET runs 62 schools across all regions of the UK. Here is the full list of schools.
• A recent union survey of AET staff found that 71% of school leaders had health and safety concerns. Issues included vomit being left for hours, blocked toilets, and heads and other senior leaders being forced to work on reception due to staffing cuts.

Media contacts: 
Liz Chinchen T: 0207 121 5463 M: 07778 158175 E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk
Kieran Pearson T: 0207 121 5555 M: 07432 741595 E: k.pearson@unison.co.uk
Press.office@gmb.org.uk
Richard.Bettsworth@ascl.org.uk
Caroline.Cowie@neu.org.uk
Barckley.Sumner@unitetheunion.org
Lena.Davies@mail.nasuwt.org.uk
steven.george@naht.org.uk

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Four Seasons difficulties show care sector is in need of urgent reform

Commenting on the announcement today (Tuesday) that two of the holding companies behind care firm Four Seasons have gone into administration, UNISON assistant general secretary Christina McAnea said:

“The company has been teetering on the brink for some time. While today’s announcement won’t immediately affect jobs or the running of care homes, it should act as an urgent wake up call to the government.

“Social care is in real trouble, but ministers’ preoccupation with Brexit means the sector’s problems are being ignored.

“Care of the elderly is too important to be left to the many companies whose business models hinge upon huge levels of private equity serviced debt. This is a reckless approach and no way to run the UK’s care sector.

“When unsustainable care companies crash, it’s local councils that have to step in and pick up the pieces – even though years of cuts have left their finances in no fit state to do so.

“Much more funding is needed, but not without major reform of social care. Otherwise much of the extra cash will simply find its way into the pockets of private care firms, especially those with shadowy financial backers.”

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 both the public and private sectors.

Media contacts: 
Liz Chinchen T: 0207 121 5463 M: 07778 158175 E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk
Kieran Pearson T: 0207 121 5555 M: 07432 741595 E: k.pearson@unison.co.uk

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Will a shower of April wins help us flower in May?

With UNISON’s campaign for Go for Growth in May already underway, it’s time to look back on an April that produced more than a few illustrations of just what the UK’s biggest union can do.

It began (as these things do) on the first of the month, when we celebrated 20 years of the national minimum wage – an achievement that UNISON made possible.

In 1999, we were told that it would cost millions of jobs – but we know how that turned out.

But we’re not resting on our laurels and UNISON is committed to campaigning for a real living wage for all. And that’s why, at a Parliamentary reception to mark the anniversary, where we were joined by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and many MPs, we launched a new campaign – #OneWageAnyAge.

A day later, we were able to celebrate a brand new win, as UNISON members at Liverpool Women’s Hospital claimed victory in their struggle to secure NHS rates of pay.

The domestics, porters, catering and security staff are all employed by a private contractor, OCS, which had refused to pay them the same rate for the job as staff employed directly by the NHS, who had seen their pay rise under last year’s nationally agreed deal.

Now, the OCS staff will no longer be paid just the legal minimum wage, but will receive the higher NHS rate.

It’s worth over £2,000 a year for full-time staff – that’s the difference we can make to people’s lives.

Staff had taken three days of strike action in February and March, calling off a further planned strike as a deal came close.

The following day, we launched a campaign to celebrate the “unsung heroes” of local government.

Chris Jobson, Barnet refuse worker for UNISON. Hendon, London.
© Jess Hurd

UNISON represents 600,000 of them – social workers, librarians, housing officers, refuse collectors, cleaners, homecare workers, youth workers, environmental health inspectors – and many more.

Read more about the launch here and visit the campaign pages for Local Service Champions here.

It was still only the first week of April, but on a chilly day, UNISON took to the courtyard at University College London to launch a campaign to bring outsourced staff back in house.

At the moment, the university outsources its cleaning and catering and security services, with staff having far worse pay, terms and conditions than colleagues who are directly employed by the university.

UNISON has enjoyed success at other universities in London, where services have already been or are in the process of being brought back in house. Read more here.

Workers at the Environment Agency are to take industrial action after a below-inflation pay rise was forced on staff earlier this year.

Staff overwhelmingly backed industrial action in their demand for a fairer offer than the 1.3% rise they were given back in January. More than 85% of votes cast supported taking action, which includes stopping unpaid overtime and work travel during personal time.

Get the full story here.

The union’s health sector held its annual conference in Bournemouth in April, with general secretary Dave Prentis telling delegates that UNISON retained a “clear position on privatisation – total opposition, and the expectation that the next Labour government will bring every public service back in house as a day one commitment.

“No ifs, no buts, no delays and no weasel words.”

In a packed agenda, conference debated the need for political parties to commit to legal assurances on safe staffing, how bus lane fines for ambulance crews must end, and the need to recruit young health workers.

Read all the reports from conference here.

Research from the union revealed that too little is being done to divest Local Government Pension Scheme funds from investing in fossil fuels – and more can be done as part of the sight to help save our planet.

Find out more – and download the full report – here.

In higher education, the union saw employers make an improved pay offer to staff – it’s not what we asked for and more talks are likely.

More needs to be done, but UNISON welcomed the government’s plan to abolish ‘no-fault’ evictions.

In a briefing, the union said that, if the proposals are implemented, they could lead to open-ended or indefinite tenancies, meaning private tenants in England could stay in their home for the long term, or as long as they want – as they can in Scotland – unless they breach their tenancy agreement.

Find out more here.

As the month drew to a close, UNISON marked International Workers’ Memorial Day, with Mr Prentis stressing that “everyone deserves to be safe at work”.

He said that “keeping our members safe at work is one of the most important tasks that trade unions can do. Let’s remember how far we’ve come in that fight – and how much more there is to do.”

Read more about the day here – and you can find out more about health and safety on our dedicated health and safety pages.

And now, with spring well and truly here and as we head into May, we’re all set to Go for Growth, to help ensure we can carry on doing more more and more for our members! Bring it on!

Find out more, including resources, at our dedicated Go for Growth pages.

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Labour Link national committee election

Elections are due to be held for regional seats on the union’s Labour Link national committee.

The election procedures and materials can be downloaded from unions’ elections webpage –  unison.org.uk/elections – from 7 May. The nomination period opens on 14 May 2019 and closes at 5pm on 14 June 2019.

Further guidance and advice will also be available on the UNISON website, using the link above.

Branches should ensure that the names of the branch officers are current and up to date on the RMS or WARMS systems. If not, please contact your regional office and ask them to amend the branch records as soon as possible.

For more information, contact the member liaison unit at the UNISON Centre. Telephone 020 7121 5399, email elections@unison.co.uk

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Remember the dead and the injured – and fight for the living

Everyone deserves to be safe at work. Everyone deserves to work in an environment where there health and wellbeing is protected. No-one expects to lose their life whilst going about their job.

I’m proud that UNISON has always made health and safety a priority – especially on this important day, International Workers Memorial Day. This is the day when we remember the dead and the injured, and recommit ourselves to fight for the living and for safe and healthy work for all.

So on behalf of our union, I promise that we will continue to challenge any threats to undermine the safety of our members at work and continue to expand and improve our campaigns on stress, mental health and musculoskeletal injuries.

Yet we know that he bedrock of our work on health and safety are our safety activists. Workplaces with safety activists are twice as safe as those without – making a real differences to the lives of our members, and in some cases, saving the lives of UNISON members.

Tackling in work stress. Promoting fire safety. Preventing Carbon monoxide poisoning. Vital tasks undertaken by UNISON activists each and every day – and on this most important day, we thank them.

Keeping our members safe at work is one of the most important tasks that trade unions can do. Today, let’s remember how far we’ve come in that fight – and how much more there is to do.

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What you need to know about government housing plans (England)

A new UNISON briefing is available on the government’s plans to ban ‘no-fault’ evictions by private landlords in England, outlining what the proposals mean for private tenants and what union members can do to push for further improvements.

The government said earlier in April that it will hold a consultation over its plans, which would mean that private landlords would no longer be able to evict tenants from their homes at short notice, without a valid reason.

They would also make it easier for landlords to regain their property if they wish to sell it or move into it themselves, as well as make changes to the court process to make it easier to settle disputes.

The UNISON briefing published this week says that, if the proposals are implemented, they could lead to open-ended or indefinite tenancies, meaning private tenants in England could stay in their home for the long term, or as long as they want – as they can in Scotland – unless they breach their tenancy agreement.

Assistant policy officer Sylvia Jones said the proposals are a major shift in government policy and “a huge victory for private tenants.” The proposals “will give them hope for a secure and stable home where they can lay down roots, raise their families and plan their lives.

“However, more needs to be done to solve the problem of rising rents and poor quality housing to give renters greater protections, security and stability in private renting.”

Download the briefing now

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Police staff publish 5% pay claim for England and Wales

UNISON and other police staff unions are calling for a 5% pay rise in England and Wales in the joint pay claim published today.

The claim, drawn up by UNISON, Unite and the GMB, also calls for the bottom two points in the pay scale (salary points and eight) to be abolished. This would lift the lowest pay among police staff from £17,262 a year to £18,078, on the current pay scale, or £18,982 if the 5% claim was met in full.

The unions point out that the bottom pay points “do not compare favourably with the lowest pay points in Police Scotland and in the NHS,” and warn that pay risks becoming more and more uncompetitive.

Across the board, the claim records that police staff pay has risen by 7.2% since 2011, while living costs measure by RPI inflation have increased by 23.5%.

UNISON national officer Ben Priestley said a 5% pay rise is necessary “in relation to the current RPI inflation rate of 2.4% and the necessary process of catching up with inflation over the last eight years”.

The key points of the one-year claim are:

• a 5% increase on all pay points;
• a 5% increase on standby allowance;
• the deletion of pay points seven and eight;
• an additional two days on the minimum annual leave entitlement, to provide 25 days annual leave on appointment and 30 days leave after five years;
• support and encouragement from the Police Staff Council for police forces to sign up to the TUC Dying to Work Charter, which provides for a compassionate approach to staff who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness.

Download the full pay claim

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Consensus on NHS workforce plans encouraging but need for extra funding mustn’t be forgotten

Commenting on a speech on the NHS workforce made today at the Royal College of Physicians annual conference (Thursday) by NHS Improvement chair Dido Harding, UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said:

“It’s good to see NHS leaders acknowledging that working for the health service isn’t what it could be and much more needs to be done if experienced staff aren’t to be lost to other parts of the economy.

“Holding on to staff is probably the biggest challenge facing the NHS. All workers across the health service need to know they’re valued and must be given the right training opportunities to use their skills and experience to move into more senior roles.

“But these urgently needed changes won’t happen on their own. New funding must allow existing staff to develop their careers and a comprehensive and rewarding apprenticeship programme is needed to bring new recruits into the NHS.

“Plans to work with health unions to find solutions so the NHS becomes a much better place to work are encouraging. Proposals for flexible working would make a real difference to the lives of staff juggling commitments outside work. But delivering this would be a major challenge without funding for extra staff.

“Staffing shortages in social care also have a real impact on the ability of the NHS to look after those in need. Unless retention issues in care are addressed, the good work planned for the health service could come undone, so it’s vital the social care workforce isn’t ignored.”

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 both the public and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Liz Chinchen T: 0207 121 5463 M: 07778 158175 E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk
Anthony Barnes T: 0207 121 5255 M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk

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UNISON condemns the soaring need for food banks in the UK as a ‘national disgrace’

The Trussell Trust today released figures showing that the past year was the busiest in the food bank charity’s 22-year history.

In the 12 months from April 2018 to March 2019, nearly 1.6 million three-day emergency food parcels were given to people in crisis in the UK ­– more than half a million of which went to children.

This is an 18.8% increase on the previous year.

And today’s figures are just the tip of the iceberg of the UK’s poverty crisis. The Trussell Trust network of 1,200 food bank centres across the UK accounts for approximately two-thirds of all emergency food banks – so there are hundreds more not touched on by the statistics.

UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis commented: “We live in the sixth richest country in the world, but hundreds of thousands of families and children are forced to rely on food parcels to survive.

“That’s a national disgrace that should shame us all.”

The Trussell Trust data suggests that the main reasons for people needing emergency food are benefits consistently not covering the cost of living, along with delays or changes to the benefits being paid.

Universal Credit is not the only benefit payment causing problems, but issues with moving onto the new system are a key driver of increasing need – almost half (49%) of benefits-related food bank referrals were linked to Universal Credit.

The charity believes that ending the five-week wait for a first Universal Credit payment should be the government’s first priority to ease the pressure on thousands of households.

“Our benefits system is supposed to protect us all from being swept into poverty,” said the trust’s chief executive Emma Revie. “Universal Credit should be part of the solution, but currently the five-week wait is leaving many without enough money to cover the basics.

“Ultimately, it’s unacceptable that anyone should have to use a food bank in the first place,” she added. “No charity can replace the dignity of having financial security.

“That’s why in the long-term we’re urging the government to ensure benefit payments reflect the true cost of living and that [employment] is secure, paying the real Living Wage, to help ensure we are all anchored from poverty.”

UNISON is supporting The Trussell Trust’s #5WeeksTooLong campaign calling for an end to the five weeks or more wait for Universal Credit.

Mr Prentis added: “No-one should be forced to rely on food banks – yet the government’s five-week wait for Universal Credit is making a bad situation worse.

“This is an utterly inhumane and indefensible approach that scars lives and communities alike.

“The government can take action now to end the five-week wait. But with the Institute for Fiscal Studies this week saying that two million people will lose out as a result of Universal Credit, they also need to think again – full stop – before any more damage is done.”

Read about UNISON’s campaign to Change Universal Credit

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Lyra McKee : The loss of a friend of our union

Lyra McKee’s death last week shocked us all. Today as her funeral takes place, we share in the collective grief and sadness at the loss of a friend of our union. Yet I can think of no better words to sum up our feelings than those used by our Northern Ireland Regional Secretary Patricia McKeown.

As Patricia said last week:

“Lyra McKee was an investigative journalist and a defender of equality and human rights.

We worked with Lyra in the past and had hoped to again in the future. We worked with her not in only her role as investigative journalist but she also trained our local UNISON activists in their media work.

Lyra was a regular and welcome face at our equality events, marches and demonstrations and she will be sorely missed. We commend her efforts on speaking for LGBT people and the difference she made.

We extend our deepest condolences to her family.

Lyra is not just another dead journalist – another worker, murdered at work. She was a child when the peace accord was signed. She was from the generation that we all hoped would enjoy a better future.

Lyra took her own peace building responsibilities very seriously. She gave voice to victims and relatives of the conflict and survivors of institutional abuse in their search for truth and justice.

Those who killed her are enemies of peace. There is no place in any part of our deeply divided society for those who use guns and knives and bombs to intimidate. They keep us divided. They interfere with the search for truth and justice. They damage our younger generation. There is an obligation on all of us to confront them and to speak out. Lyra had the guts to do it – so must we all.”

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Firm strategy and better data needed to tackle abuse of NHS staff, says UNISON

Responding to renewed government commitments to tackle violence against NHS staff today (Wednesday), UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said:

“Tackling the shocking level of violence against health staff requires more than just warm words. Last year’s commitments to reduce harm to staff were welcome, but several months on we are still waiting for details of a comprehensive strategy.

“We’re not convinced that body-worn cameras are the answer to attacks on ambulance staff. More prosecutions would send out a message that abuse is not tolerated and increased NHS investment in staff would make attacks less likely.

“Understanding what works must start with comprehensive figures, rather than one question on a staff survey, to use as a baseline for recording abuse and measuring progress.”

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 both the public and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Anthony Barnes T: 0207 121 5255 M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Sophie Goodchild T: 0207 121 5546 M: 07767 325595 E: s.goodchild@unison.co.uk

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Blog: It’s time to go for growth

Last year, our union achieved something big – we grew.

At a time when union membership across the world is in decline, it’s UNISON that’s bucking the trend and standing up for more and more public service workers. As a result, we’re now the biggest union in the UK.

A big part of that was our “Grovember” campaign, which pulled everyone together – activists and staff, in branches, regionally and nationally – to focus on recruiting more members and growing our union in November. It was a massive success, producing a spike in membership numbers and a lasting change across our union which has seen membership continue to grow through 2019.

But we cannot rest on our laurels – because the more people who join our union, the better UNISON is able to defend all of us. That’s why in May we’re running another month of activities to grow our union – we’re calling it “Go For Growth”, and just like Grovember, it’ll take everyone working together to succeed.

In branches and regions across the country branches and regions will be making plans to speak to more potential members about the benefits of being a UNISON member. That’ll be supported by advertising, social media and press coverage. There’s a UNISON Centre phone bank running this week to support branches in the build-up to Go For Growth. And we’ll be conducting dedicated research on why people join and leave UNISON to learn more about what motivates people to be UNISON members.

There’s a huge amount of work to do, but I know that our union is up to the task – and that every time we build our union, we make it easier to support, defend and represent our members in the decades to come.

Find out more at goforgrowth.unison.org.uk.

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— Playground Markings (@playareamarking) April 23, 2019

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Tarmac Play Area Graphics in Headless Cross #Macadam #Playground...

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— Playground Markings (@playareamarking) April 23, 2019

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Creative Play Markings Installers in Armagh #Children’s...

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— Playground Markings (@playareamarking) April 23, 2019

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Creche Outdoor Learning Graphics in Seven Springs #Creche...

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— Playground Markings (@playareamarking) April 23, 2019

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Strike ballot over ‘derisory’ pay for college staff

Hundreds of further education (FE) staff will today (Tuesday) vote on taking strike action over pay, says UNISON.

Employees at 14 colleges* across England will take part in the ballot including institutions in Bradford, Norwich and Brighton.

The dispute is over a national pay offer** from employers which UNISON has rejected and described as ‘derisory’.

The vote on strike action follows a consultation in January involving 11,000 FE college employees. These included administration workers, learning support staff and those in finance.

UNISON head of education Jon Richards said: “These are among the lowest paid workers in colleges.

“Many are struggling to make ends meet or even afford food. This pay offer is derisory – it’s time employers gave staff a decent pay rise.”

Notes to editors:
* The colleges taking part in the ballot over the national pay offer are Lambeth, Bradford, Leeds College of Building, York, Leeds City, Greater Brighton Metropolitan, Abingdon and Witney, Blackburn, Wirral Metropolitan, Bolton, Warwickshire Colleges Group, Norwich City and LTE Group (known as Manchester College). Liverpool City is running a separate ballot because its dispute also covers employment terms and conditions.
** In its 2018-19 pay claim, UNISON asked for a 5% pay rise or a fixed increase of £1,500. This was for staff earning less than £30,000 a year. However, the Association of Colleges made a 1% pay recommendation or £250 – whichever is greater.
– A recent UNISON survey revealed that one in 50 FE college staff has been forced to rely on a food bank.
– 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 both the public and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Sophie Goodchild T: 0207 121 5546 M: 07767 325595 E: s.goodchild@unison.co.uk
Anthony Barnes T: 0207 121 5255 M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk

The article Strike ballot over ‘derisory’ pay for college staff first appeared on the UNISON National site.

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Nursery Playground Markings in Kingston #Outdoor #Nursery #Games...

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— Playground Markings (@playareamarking) April 23, 2019

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Creative Play Markings Installers in Milton #Children’s...

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— Playground Markings (@playareamarking) April 23, 2019

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It’s spring – let’s Go for Growth

May says spring. It’s the season of growth. And our branches and regions across the country, and across the union, are gearing up to Go for Growth in May: making plans to host events and talk to members and potential members about the benefits of being in UNISON.

Our Go for Growth Campaign starts on 29 April and runs to 2 June, to allow for May’s bank holidays.

Advertising, social media and press coverage will support dynamic ground activity in workplaces and the community by activists and organisers working in partnership.

Other key elements of the work the centre is doing to support branches and activists in the workplace include:

• a UNISON Centre phone bank running in the week beginning 22 April to contact branches about the campaign to see if they’ve got all the resources and support they need;

• welcome calls to new joiners – if your branch would like to do this, please let the region know, to make sure we meet GDPR requirements and are monitoring;

• a dedicated piece of research will be carried out into why people leave the union and how they communicate that, as well as our communication with them.

On the ground, branches and regions are being asked to think about how best they can approach all members and potential joiners – not just those who work nine-to-five.

We saw some great night walks and breakfast stalls last time around when we ran the Grovember campaign, so if why not give it a go in May? It’s a great way of showing that UNISON is there for our members whenever and wherever they work.

As an added breakfast bonus, the mornings are a lot lighter in May than they were in November – and sometimes even sunny.

And remember, nearly 80% of our members now join online, so don’t forget that you can use Join Online (join.unison.org.uk) or EasyJoiner (easy.unison.org.uk) on a tablet or phone when you are recruiting in the workplace.

There are other things our activists, reps and branches can do to make the month’s campaigning that little bit easier. Some of these might be obvious, but we all know how easy it is to forget the obvious things until we’re reminded.

Order and refresh your recruitment materials to make sure you’re well supplied throughout May from our online catalogue at catalogue.unison.org.uk/.

Why not spring clean your branch noticeboards, your Facebook page or social media to give them that fresh, welcoming feeling?

And do check out our new campaign hub at goforgrowth.unison.org.uk for tips, advice and downloadable resources.

Make sure you fully understand your branch and workplace: have you mapped where non-members work and the places you have visited recently, or those where the union hasn’t been visible for a while?

Reach out to members and non-members with an event – a picnic, a stall in the canteen, cupcakes or a social.

Go walkabout! Whether it’s a night walk around the wards on a hospital or a breakfast session with refuse collectors, why not make a special effort to be where your members are when they are working? Say hello to current members and try and recruit some new ones.

Want to organise a local recruit-a-friend competition? You can use EasyJoiner and we’ll help you see all the data you need to pick a winner.

Promote our great new offers and deals to your members. There’s a downloadable flyer coming soon, along with graphics and text, you could use in branch emails. It’s a way of saying thank you to our current members.

If you’re on social media, use the hashtags #GoForGrowth and #JoinUNISON to share what you’re doing – or just what’s so great about UNISON.

And let us know what’s working for you, so that other branches can learn from your successes at goforgrowth.unison.org.uk.

Maybe you face particular problems, such as an employer who won’t allow union access to the workplace? If so, how do you deal with that – meetings, perhaps with food and refreshments, in the local town hall or somewhere else?

Maybe you have to support – and recruit among – a scattered workforce, who work at many sites: care workers, or a number of schools with just a few current members in each site?

Many branches and activists have used “drop-offs” in situation where they can’t meet everyone, leaving packets of publicity material and recruitment forms in tea areas or canteens for instance. Have you done this? How was the take-up? Did you do anything to make packets more attractive than just a pile of leaflets on a cupboard: ribbons, sweets etc?

Again, let us – and more importantly other branches and activists – know, using the address above.

But, of course it’s not just about you and your branch – with UNISON Centre supplying some aerial support above you.

Regions have also been developing detailed plans to make sure organising and other staff are available to work alongside and bolster our activists and branches.

So if you’re a UNISON activist and want to know more about what’s going on in your region and what support is being offered to branches, talk to your regional, area or local organiser, or the regional office now.

The article It’s spring – let’s Go for Growth first appeared on the UNISON National site.

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Early Years Play Areas in Lancashire #EYFS #Games #Markings...

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— Playground Markings (@playareamarking) April 23, 2019

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Thermoplastic Markings Removal in De Beauvoir Town #Removal #of...

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— Playground Markings (@playareamarking) April 23, 2019

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Tarmac Play Area Graphics in Hickmans Green #Macadam #Playground...

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— Playground Markings (@playareamarking) April 23, 2019

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Ofsted Playground Floor Markings in Isles of Scilly #Educational...

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— Playground Markings (@playareamarking) April 23, 2019

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External Playground Marking Designs in Southtown #Outdoor #Play...

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— Playground Markings (@playareamarking) April 22, 2019

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Playground Markings Experts in Wereton #Wereton Playground...

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— Playground Markings (@playareamarking) April 22, 2019

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Creche Outdoor Learning Graphics in Isle of Anglesey #Creche...

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— Playground Markings (@playareamarking) April 22, 2019

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External Playground Marking Designs in Argyll and Bute #Outdoor...

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— Playground Markings (@playareamarking) April 22, 2019

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School Netball Court Painters in Casterton #Netball #Line...

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— Playground Markings (@playareamarking) April 22, 2019

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Children’s Playground Re-Marking in Bell’s Close...

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— Playground Markings (@playareamarking) April 22, 2019

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School Activity Wall Panels in Dumfries and Galloway #School...

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— Playground Markings (@playareamarking) April 22, 2019

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External Playground Marking Designs in Suffolk #Outdoor #Play...

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— Playground Markings (@playareamarking) April 22, 2019

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Classic Thermoplastic Games Designs in Devon #Classic...

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— Playground Markings (@playareamarking) April 22, 2019

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Playground Markings Experts in Banbridge #Banbridge Playground...

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— Playground Markings (@playareamarking) April 22, 2019

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Children’s Playground Re-Marking in Kingston #Kids’...

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— Playground Markings (@playareamarking) April 21, 2019

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Kindergarten Activity Markings in Norfolk #Outdoor #Kindergarten...

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— Playground Markings (@playareamarking) April 21, 2019

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Basketball Court Marking Contractor in Treloquithack #Basketball...

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— Playground Markings (@playareamarking) April 21, 2019

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School Football Court Paint in Lullington #Soccer #Pitch #Line...

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— Playground Markings (@playareamarking) April 21, 2019

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Tarmac Play Area Graphics in Brown Street #Macadam #Playground...

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— Playground Markings (@playareamarking) April 21, 2019

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Thermoplastic Markings Removal in Yettington #Removal #of...

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— Playground Markings (@playareamarking) April 21, 2019

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Thermoplastic Playground Hopscotch in Craigavon #Colourful...

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— Playground Markings (@playareamarking) April 21, 2019

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School Daily Mile Markings in Craigavon #Schools #Daily #Mile...

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— Playground Markings (@playareamarking) April 21, 2019

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Creative Play Markings Installers in Bedfordshire...

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— Playground Markings (@playareamarking) April 21, 2019

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