Torbay Local Government Branch

The post-appeals results are in, and our office has been very busy with enquiries from lots of Council and Schools staff. There have been a large number of questions and we're working hard to get information out to our members

With additional support from our Regional Officers and Organisers we are trying to ensure that every one of our members has the information that they want, and the support that they need.

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 700,0000 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:

UNISON, the UK's leading public sector trade union and the main union
for school support staff today called for respect for teaching
assistants (TA's) and other school support staff, and for them to be
given proper pay, training and support to do their jobs.

UNISON Head of Education, Christina McAnea, said:

"As a key member of the education team, teaching assistants (TAs) have a
very valuable role to play in delivering high quality education for
children. They are not teachers - they don't have the same training or

Local government unions have warned employers that the 0.5% pay offer for England, Wales and Northern Ireland is totally unacceptable, and it called on them to open meaningful negotiations as a matter of urgency.

The following Press Release was issued last week.

UNISON defends Equal Pay

… but not the way Torbay Council do it!

UNISON members working at Torbay Council are angry about the pay information received last week, and UNISON believes they have every right to feel that way.