At work

Schools

UNISON is the largest trade union for staff in schools and local authority education departments with thousands of our members working schools and related services across Eastern Region.

Our members include teaching assistants, nursery staff, administrators, secretaries, policy officers, technicians, cleaners, caretakers, school meals workers - in fact anyone working in schools or supporting education.

UNISON is campaigning to make sure the vital contribution these staff make to schools and education is recognised and rewarded by calling for:

Better pay and conditions
Improved career structures
Access to training and development
Fair treatment for term-time, part-time and temporary staff
High quality, well-resourced education services accountable to the local community

SSSNB

The School Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSSNB) has been set up to negotiate support staff pay and conditions of employment in all maintained schools in England. The new schools negotiating body for England will mean changes face our members.

For more information see SSSNB circulars under Related Documents ...

Feature - Visits to schools re SSSNB project

Annette Howlings – Teaching Assistant, Tring, Hertfordshire

Married and has 3 sons. Has been a TA for 10 years, the last 3 at current school. Has a forces background, worked in Germany for 9 years in the past.
Cost of childcare in England prompted Annette to look for a job within schools, as she wanted to spend more time with her sons. Annette is also a qualified swimming teacher – did this to help out the school. She has also done the 1 year CLANSA course.

Annette enjoys seeing how the pupils in her school grow and develop with the help and support that she gives them - it’s nice to see how they have come a long way since first coming into the school.

Annette feels that HLTA status should come with experience, and not qualifications – if you haven’t got Maths & English GCSE you cannot do the HLTA course, although many people are very capable of doing the job and are allowed to work to that level in their school, they just don’t get the recognition, or the appropriate level of pay.

Annette hopes that the SSSNB will result in fair pay across the board for all Teaching Assistants and that all schools will be forced to recognise HLTAs and that they will be paid appropriately.

Essex County

Sacked! School Dinner Lady Carol Hill

UNISON Essex County branch supported Carol Hill in her appeal against dismissal by a Colchester Primary school after she innocently told parents their child had been bullied. She said ...:

See National schools link for further information on schools here

To have your say, to find out more information, to get involved, please contact your local branch or easternschools@unison.co.uk

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