Education Newsletter Islington UNISON

 

September 2012

Email: rosemary.plummer@islingtonunison.org.uk

LOCAL GOVERNMENT PENSION UPDATE

Unison members eligible for the Local Government Pension Scheme were balloted over proposed changes to the scheme and voted 90.2% in favour of accepting these changes.

The union led the negotiations which resulted in proposals to maintain the current contributions levels for 90% of LGPS, introduce a 50/50 low cost scheme for low paid, and move from a final salary to a career average scheme.

For more detailed information on the proposal see: www.unison.or.uk/pensions/2014proposal.asp


Rosemary Plummer, Education convenor says:

“I am marching on 20th because I am fed up with this Government robbing the poor and supporting the rich.”

TEACHING ASSISTANTS ARE VITAL TO POORER CHILDREN.

A recent national foundation for educational research survey on the use of pupil premium (extra funding of £600 per pupil entitled to free school meals) showed that schools were spending more money on early intervention, reducing class sizes, more one to one tuition, offsetting budget cuts and additional Teaching Assistants.

More Teaching Assistants appeared as one of the top spending prioritise in 30% of replies.

This is more evidence that whatever the government thinks, Schools know the value of employing Teaching Assistants.

Managing Medical Support in Schools and Early year’s settings.

Unison have been in talks with the Department of Education and Health on this subject they are working on a revised policy which we hope will be available soon, however as this is the start of the new academic year I am enclosing a copy of Managing Medicines and Providing Medical Support in Schools and Early Years Settings. You may already have a copy however you may not. This is useful information for everyone working in Schools and Early Years.

TEACHERS TAKE INDUSTRIAL ACTION-OUR ADVICE

The two major teaching unions, the NUT and the NAS-UWT are taking action beginning on 26th September.

This is action short of strike action.

It means that teachers may refuse to carry out some of their regular duties.

We need to ensure that you all know that some heads may ask you to carry out these duties that are normally done by the teachers.

Should you be asked to carry out a teaching task then you must refuse. You should tell your head teacher that are not comfortable with this and report it to the trade union.

MARCH AND PROTEST AGAINST THE TORY-LIBDEM GOVERNMENT CUTS ON OCTOBER 20TH

Jane Doolan, Branch Secretary, Islington UNISON says:

“Islington UNISON members deliver our valuable public services. We clean the streets, we work in our schools, we work in our care homes and day centres, we work with the elderly, sick and vulnerable, we work all over the borough helping our community.

The bankers have delivered this country into chaos. The debt is their responsibility and not ours.

We believe that October 20th needs to be a huge monster size demonstration. We believe that it needs to be the beginning and not the end!

All over Europe the same policies are being forced on working people and we need to unite with our brothers and sisters across Europe to resist these savage cuts, whatever they are and wherever they come from.

We are marching to resist these cuts and to defeat this vicious Conservative led coalition government.”

How to contact the Islington UNISON branch:

Email: admin@islingtonunison.org.uk

Phone: 020 7527 8298

Phone: Rosemary Plummer (Education and Schools Convenor)

07946177303

Rosemary.plummer@islingtonunison.org.uk