Tag: school staff

School strikes to go ahead next week

UNISON Scotland has received a message of unwavering solidarity from Andrea Bradley, the General Secretary of the EIS Union.

In this message, she extends heartfelt support to our dedicated UNISON members within the Education sector who have taken a courageous stand for fair pay on behalf of all local government workers.

Highlighting the invaluable contributions of education workers to the growth and development of young minds and our society as a whole, Andrea Bradley emphasises the urgent need to address the undervaluation of their work:

Solidarity from EIS

“The EIS stands in full solidarity with UNISON members within Education who have been forced to take strike action in the just fight for fair pay.

Education is a vital public service within which workers are contributing massively to young people’s learning, care and development for the benefit of our whole society.

Yet we continue to see that work being undervalued by those who hold the purse-strings. All power to your members for their courage in standing up for themselves, their colleagues and their families… and for the future of Scottish Education. All school staff deserve to be paid fairly for the essential work that they do. No ifs, no buts, no maybes. Solidarity from the EIS!”

– Andrea Bradley, EIS General Secretary

COSLA’s Resources Spokesperson Councillor Katie Hagmann responded yesterday: “I am extremely disappointed with the news from UNISON today that not only are they recommending rejection of this half a billion pay package – they are putting our communities, especially our children and young people, through the turmoil and mayhem of strikes next week with their actions.

“We have met every ask of our Trade Union colleagues throughout these negotiations and this best and final offer was made on the basis that strikes would be suspended.

“We absolutely value all our Local Government Workforce and throughout these negotiations Council Leaders have re-iterated the value we place on the Workforce and the work that they do.

“It is totally unacceptable that with such a significant offer on the table that our Trade Union colleagues are putting our communities and our young people through the turmoil of strikes.

“It must be reiterated that we are talking about a pay package worth over £445 million, specifically targeted at the lower end of our workforce.  A pay package which not only compares well to other sectors but recognises the cost-of-living pressures on our workforce and which would mean the lowest paid would see an in-year uplift of over £2000 or just under 10%.  

“This would mean that a pupil support assistant currently earning £22,000 would receive a £2006 pay increase and a new salary of £24.000. This is an additional £748 from the offer in April.”

Your Pay: The Facts PDF (21/09/23)

Additional anti-racism support package for school staff

A new package of support materials for teachers and staff will embed anti-racism and race equality into all aspects of school life.

Education Scotland’s resource will ensure children and young people see language, content and imagery that reflects the diversity of culture, identities, and experiences, including their own.     

This week saw the publication of guidance from anti-racism charity the Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights and a teacher toolkit published by Scotdec, one of Scotland’s Development Education Centres, both of which will further support teachers in embedding anti-racism across the curriculum.

Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “Racism of any form has no place in Scotland which is why embedding anti-racism into the ethos and practice of our education system is imperative.

“This new Education Scotland guidance builds on existing resources available and was developed in collaboration with a range of young people, education practitioners and organisations with lived experience of racism and expertise in addressing it.

“Our schools and our curriculum seek to promote and inspire a sense of belonging, inclusion and social justice for learners, practitioners and the wider community. Having an education system that provides an opportunity for anti-racism learning, debate and leadership is crucial in our attempt to eradicate racism in wider society.”

Education Scotland Chief Executive and HMI Chief Inspector of Education Gayle Gorman said : “It is essential that all our children and young people develop an understanding of the world around them and how it has been shaped, as well as an appreciation of the contribution made by people from a range of cultures and identities.

“Our new resource will support the profession to teach and build a society which advances equality and actively rejects and challenges racial discrimination. We hope that our whole-school approach to race equality and anti-racism will help children and young people develop as responsible global citizens.”