Campaign for the Living Wage in North Somerset Schools and Academies

North Somerset UNISON will soon be writing to all North Somerset Schools and Academies to make them aware of our campaign for the Living Wage for Schools Support Staff across the district.

Over the last year or so UNISON has signed national agreements to implement the Living Wage with the Church of England, the Catholic Church, the Schools Co-operative Society, and a number of Academies.

In North Somerset there are 25 Church of England Schools, 3 Catholic Schools and 5 Co-operative Schools. This means that over half the Primary Schools in the area are being encouraged by their Churches and Society to pay the Living Wage. In addition we understand that 2 out of the 10 Secondary Schools (including Academies) in North Somerset are likely to implement the Living Wage within the year. As all these Schools begin the process of implementing the Living Wage, others will be forced to follow, or else they may find themselves facing recruitment problems in a recovering jobs market.

Further information on UNISON's Living Wage agreements with the Church of England, the Catholic Church and the Schools Co-operative Society can be found at the following links.

Church of England announcement:
https://www.churchofengland.org/media-centre/news/2014/09/unison-and-church-of-england-reach-landmark-agreement-to-bring-living-wage-to-all-schools.aspx

The Living Wage - A briefing and plan for implementation in Church of England schools

Catholic Church announcement:
http://www.catholiceducation.org.uk/news/ces-news/item/1002826-living-wage-guide-for-schools-from-catholic-church-and-unison

The Living Wage - A briefing and plan for implementation in Catholic schools

Schools Co-operative Society announcement:
http://www.co-operativeschools.coop/media_events/living_wage

The LivingWage - A briefing and plan for implementation in Co-operative Schools