Torbay LG Branch - Schools Portal

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:

"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.

The Local Government Association, the Church of England Education
Division, Catholic Education Services and the Foundation and Aided
Schools National Association (FASNA) will represent school staff
employers. rong>