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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