UNISON is the largest union in education in the UK, representing 350,000 education staff.

Our members include librarians, registrars, people working in personnel, IT and finance departments, teaching assistants, technicians, early years (nursery) staff, policy advisors, administrators, secretaries, cleaners, caretakers, school meals workers, craft workers, porters working in schools, children's services, colleges and universities.

New voice for school staff gets Royal assent

(12/11/2009)The first major new negotiating body to be set up in the public sector for around thirty years, has been given the royal assent today (12 November).

Around 700,000 teaching assistants, nursery staff, administrators, secretaries, policy officers, technicians, cleaners, special needs staff, caretakers and school meals workers are covered by the new body, which provides national guidelines for their pay and conditions.

Christina McAnea, Head of Education for UNISON, which represents more than 250,000 school workers, welcomed the new body saying:

“Today is, in a very real sense, an historic day. It is the first time in almost thirty years that a major new national negotiating body has been established and I am delighted school support staff are being given a voice of their own.

“For too long the vital contribution they make in sustaining children throughout their school years has gone unrecognised and undervalued.

“The body will oversee and ensure fair and equal pay alongside a robust training and career structure to apply in all schools.”

To mark the occasion UNISON commissioned a giant cake in the shape of a school blackboard with the words, “A new voice for school support staff”. The new negotiating body is called the School Staff Negotiating Body (SSSNB). It will cover all school support staff in maintained schools in England.

School staff will be represented by UNISON, GMB and Unite the union.

Latest news

(23/11/2009) This article tells members about what has been happening in Ofsted.

UNISON in Schools newsletter

(25/02/10) The latest UNISON in Schools newsletter has been published. To find out more read this story.

UNISON in Colleges Spring edition

(01/03/2010) The latest ‘UNISON in Colleges’; a newsletter for members in further education and sixth form colleges. The newsletter gives updated information on our campaigns against job cuts and other aspects of UNISON’s work in colleges Branches are urged to order a supply of the newsletter to send to colleges in their authority (stock no. 2518). Copies can be ordered from Communications by quoting stock number

Redundancy Digest and Trade Union Commentary

(12/03/2010) Please find attached details of the Joint Unions Commentary on the ‘Digest for Job Security: A Reference Document for Higher Education Institutions with input from UCEA and the Higher Education Unions’.


Redundancy Digest and Trade Union Commentary

FE & 6th form Colleges Seminar 2010

This article informs branches about the National Further Education and Sixth Form College Seminar which will be held at the James Watt Centre, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh on Friday 9th and Saturday 10th April 2010. Registrations for the event closes on Friday 26th March 2010

Celebrities, children's charities and parents come together to ‘shout out for a sure start’

(10/02/2010)TV presenter and former Mum of the Year, Melinda Messenger, and popular children’s TV character, Peppa Pig, will today come together with charities, trade unions and parents to ‘shout out for a sure start’.

Notice of National Careers/Connexions Seminar

(12/11/2009)Notice of Joint Seminar between Careers/Connexions and the Youth and Community Sector

This bulletin provides details of the seminar for UNISON representatives and stewards working in the Careers/Connexions sector and UNISON members working in the Youth and Community sector will be held on Tuesday, 9 February 2010 at Friends House, Euston Road, London (map attached in the bulletin). The seminar will run from 10.30 a.m. until 4.00 p.m. Delegates are welcome to register from 9.15 a.m. Closing date is 4 January 2010

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