date: 29 July 2008

embargo: 00.01hrs Thursday 31 July 2008

Unions agree co-ordinated approach towards pay and conditions in academies

The TUC, along with the six teaching and school support unions in England, will today (Thursday) launch a model agreement to help secure pay and conditions for academy staff that are at least as favourable as those enjoyed by staff in all other state schools.

The agreement aims to give unions greater recognition in academies, improve their negotiating position and allow reps the right to have time off for union duties.

The agreement has been signed by the teaching unions (ATL, NASUWT and NUT) and the unions representing support and other professional school staff (GMB, UNISON and Unite).

The agreement follows a key recommendation from last year's TUC report on academies - A New Direction - which called on the Government to require academies to recognise unions on the same basis as other schools. It also urged Ministers to offer pay and conditions to academy staff that are at least as favourable as the national frameworks for staff in maintained schools.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: 'The attitude of academies towards unions so far has been mixed, with some showing scant regard for the role of unions in representing the workforce. All academies need to engage with all the school workforce unions and today's agreement is an important step towards achieving this.

'Ultimately the Government must change the regulations so that academies are no longer exempt from the national rules that all other schools follow regarding pay, conditions and union recognition. Otherwise, we could end up with a two-tier workforce in our schools, which would be a disaster for teachers and support staff, schools and, most importantly, our children.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

Media enquiries:
Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248 M: 07778 158175 E: media@tuc.org.uk
Elly Brenchley T: 020 7467 1337 M: 07900 910624 E: ebrenchley@tuc.org.uk

Press release (400 words) issued 31 Jul 2008