Pay rise welcome but mustn’t lead to cuts, says UCAC 

22 October 2019

In response to an announcement by Education Minister, Kirsty Williams AM on 22 October about school teachers’ pay award for 2019-20, UCAC education union has warned that the pay rise must not come at the cost of further cuts to school budgets.

Dilwyn Roberts-Young, UCAC General Secretary said “Although we called for an across-the-board pay rise of 5%, UCAC acknowledges that the 2.75% pay award moves us in the direction of restoring the value of teachers’ salaries.

“We also welcome the fact that the Education Minister went beyond the Independent Welsh Pay Review Body’s initial recommendation of 2.4%.

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Mindfulness 

10 October 2019 
I recently had the privilege of attending a meeting entitled 'Wales: A caring country?', organised for all those involved in education, to create a vision and strategy that will deliver the impact of mindfulness in Wales.
 
The group had met earlier in May as an opportunity to take initial steps in considering health and well-being in education here in Wales.
 
What is Mindfulness within a school context?
 
Mindfulness is learning to take account of our experiences as they occur, with curiosity and acceptance and during the day there was an excellent opportunity to hear how various practitioners had begun to embed Mindfulness within their local authorities, and their schools.
 

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Better to take the time to get it right, says UCAC 

20 September 2019

In response to Welsh Government’s announcement on 17 September about delaying the introduction of the new Additional Learning Needs system for a year, UCAC education union has said that it’s better to take the time to get the reforms right.

Rebecca Williams, UCAC Deputy General Secretary said “Although the announcement has come as a surprise, UCAC welcomes the extra year to ensure that the new Additional Learning Needs system is implemented effectively.

“The Additional Learning Needs Code is a key document for everyone who works in this field, and it’s crucial that it should be fit for purpose. There are a number of issues within the draft Code which would benefit from more detailed discussion – something which the extension to the timetable will now allow.

“The extra year would also allow the Independent Welsh Pay Review Body to consider the pay and conditions of ALNCos and ensure that they are in tune with the demands of the new system.

“UCAC believes that when it comes to large-scale reform, it is better to take the time to get it right. So we urge everyone to respect the new timetable and to make the most of the extra time to be ready for implementation.”

Earth Strike

19 September 2019
 

Earth Strike

UCAC supports the composite passed at Congress which resolved that the TUC would:

  • call for a 30-minute workday campaign action to coincide with the global school strike on 20 September
  • campaign for national and regional Just Transition Commissions including full union and education representation to develop, monitor and implement the process.  

An official from UCAC will be present at the Earth Strike event to be held in Aberystwyth near the Train Station at 11.30am.

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