Zero tolerance, training and involving staff are key to dealing with violence in schools

#ulgc15 Local Government Conference heard the problems of challenging behaviour in schools from the front line as two Scotland delegates brought their experience to the debate.

Glasgow City’s Sylvia Haughney, a support for learning instructor for 34 years, told delegates: “Staff in mainstream school may find it hard to understand that when an ASN colleague has been slapped six times during the course of the day or kicked 10 times the next day, that somehow this can be normal despite it being entirely unacceptable.”

Susan Kennedy, speaking for the Service Groups Executive, quoted one school support worker with almost ten years experience told us that they would leave the profession if they had another job to go to “I have been physically assaulted twice to the point where I ended up in hospital and was forced to take time off work, and other colleagues have ended up in similar situations. Not only is this damaging to staff morale, but it is incredibly disruptive to pupils and constantly affects their ability to learn."

Glasgow’s pupil support staff set for further strike action over imposed healthcare duties

Mon 18 Nov 2013

NB Picture and interview opportunities available on morning of Tuesday 19 Nov 2013

School support staff will be lobbying Glasgow City Council tomorrow (Tuesday) in the latest round of strike action over the imposition of healthcare duties to their roles.

The move – being taken by pupil support assistants, instructors and care workers in the North West of the city – is in response to the council’s decision to force all pupil support assistants to undertake specialist healthcare tasks, including the administration of medicine, in addition to their core duties.

More than 200 UNISON members will lobby Glasgow City Council, calling for an end to the imposition of these duties and to settle the dispute.

Carol Ball, Education Convener for Glasgow City UNISON, said: "Strike action is seen as a last resort for our members, but we are determined to do what it takes to get the council to sit up and listen.

“Our priority is our pupils and to be asked to administer medicine to children with little or no training is absolute nonsense. Parents, teachers and head teachers know that schools would crumble without the hard work and dedication of school support staff and to force them into this difficult position is both unfair and unnecessary.

“The council needs to get back around the table and put the needs of the children first.”

ENDS

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY
Media organisations are invited to send a reporter, photographer and/or crew to the lobby which will take place from noon tomorrow, Tuesday, November 19, at Education Services, City Chambers East Building, 40 John Street, Glasgow.

Picket lines will be held from 8.30am at:
- Scotstoun Primary School, 21 Duncan Avenue, Glasgow, G14 9HN
- Bankhead Primary School, 66 Caldwell Avenue, Glasgow, G13 3AS
- Dunard Primary School, 65 Dunard Street, Glasgow, G20 6RL
- Broomhill Primary School, 57 Edgehill Road, Glasgow, G11 7HZ

Notes for editors:

1. PSAs are currently paid an annual salary of £11,800 and Glasgow City Council has not offered any pay increase, or formal training, for the additional duties.

2. Further information on action being taken by school support staff in Glasgow please see previouss news releases:
http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/news/2013/sepoct/1030a.htm
http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/news/2013/novdec/1105.htm
http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/news/2013/novdec/1113.htm

'We educate, not medicate' - school support staff strike again over imposed healthcare tasks

Wednesday 13 Nov 2013
More than 400 striking school support staff in Glasgow will take to the streets tomorrow (Thursday) to lobby the City Council again over forced changes to their roles.

The move - being taken by pupil support assistants, instructors and care workers in the South of the city – is the latest round of strike action in a series taken by UNISON members in response to the council’s decision to force all pupil support assistants to undertake specialist healthcare tasks, including the administration of medicine, in addition to their core duties.

UNISON members will lobby Glasgow City Council, calling for t an end to the imposition of these duties and to settle the dispute.

Carol Ball, Education Convener for Glasgow City UNISON, said:

“Strike action is the last resort but feelings are running high. Pupil Support assistants are angry at reports that they are only after more money and falsehoods that they are already paid for this task.

The lies need to stop and an agreement reached that puts the educational needs of the children first.” 

“Our members want to do the best for our pupils, however we are being asked to administer medicine with little or no training. Pupil Support Assistants chose their job to be educators not health care workers– you wouldn’t risk asking a painter to be an electrician for a day.” 

“Parents, teachers and head teachers know that schools would crumble without the hard work and dedication of school support staff and to force them into this difficult position is both unfair and unnecessary. 

“ Glasgow City Council expects the lowest graded workers to undertake medical/healthcare tasks, with no formal training and no increase in pay. We strongly disagree with this and call on the council to treat our members with the respect they deserve.”

ENDS

Notes for editors

1. UNISON members will be lobbying from 10am tomorrow, Thursday, November 14, at Education Services, City Chambers East Building, 40 John Street, Glasgow.

2. PSAs are currently paid an annual salary of £11,800 and Glasgow City Council has not offered any pay increase, or formal training, for the additional duties.

3. Further information on action being taken by school support staff in Glasgow please see our earlier news release: http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/news/2013/sepoct/1030a.htm 



Lobby at 10am, Glasgow City Council, as above

Picket lines- Hazlewood School, 50 Dumbreck Court G41 5DQ Bellahouston
- Hampden School 18 Logan Cres G5 0HP
- Langlands School Glenside Ave G33 5SD
- Hillington School 227 Hartlaw Cres G52 2JL

Child welfare must be the priority – school support staff strike over imposed healthcare tasks

Tue 5 Nov 2013

More than 400 school support staff will take to the streets tomorrow (Wednesday) to lobby Glasgow City Council over forced changes to their roles.

The move – which is being taken by pupil support assistants, instructors and care workers in the north east of the city – is the latest in a round of strike action taken by UNISON members in response to the council’s decision to force pupil support assistants to undertake specialist healthcare tasks, including the administration of medicine, in addition to their core duties.

Members will lobby Glasgow City Council, calling for them to put an end to the imposition of these duties and to get back around the table to negotiate a way forward.

Carol Ball, education convener for Glasgow City UNISON, said: “This strike action is not taken lightly by our members and is very much seen as a last resort.

“The simple fact is that child welfare must be the priority. We want to do the best for our pupils, however we are being asked to administer medicine with little or no training.

“Parents, teachers and head teachers know that schools would crumble without the hard work and dedication of school support staff and to force them into this difficult position is both unfair and unnecessary.

“Glasgow City Council refers to asthma, diabetes, epilepsy and anaphylactic shock as ‘low level’ tasks and expect the lowest graded workers to undertake them, with no formal training and no increase in pay. We strongly disagree with this and call on the council to get back around the table and to treat our members with the respect they deserve.”

ENDS

Notes for editors

1. UNISON members will be lobbying from 11am tomorrow, Wednesday, November 5, at Education Services, City Chambers East Building, 40 John Street, Glasgow.

2. PSAs are currently paid an annual salary of £11,800 and Glasgow City Council has not offered any pay increase, or formal training, for the additional duties.

3. Further information on action being taken by school support staff in Glasgow please see new release from last week: http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/news/2013/sepoct/1030a.htm

Glasgow City Council intransigence forces 1000 pupil support assistants out on strike

Wed 30 Oct 2013

The strike is a last resort action by the city’s pupil support assistants (PSAs) following the forcing of new responsibilities for child healthcare tasks on them without agreement. 

Glasgow City Council are expecting PSAs to undertake specialist health care tasks and administration of medicines in addition to their core duties of supporting the delivery of education.

This represents a significant extension of the PSA’s role and responsibility - one that they do not wish to undertake. This however is not recognised by Glasgow City Council who describe the monitoring and administration of care for pupils with asthma, diabetes, epilepsy and anaphylactic shock as ‘low level tasks’.

UNISON argues that these new roles and responsibilities should be assigned to a higher grade post than that held currently held by PSAs.

There has been no offer of increased pay for all PSAs, instructors or care staff for the administration of medicines.

PSAs are currently paid an annual salary of £11,800.

Some PSAs are being asked to deliver what the council describe as ‘higher level tasks’ 

These include: blood glucose monitoring, injections, gastronomy tube/peg feeding, tracheostomy care including suction, catheterisation and catheter care. UNISON believes that these are tasks which should be delivered by professional healthcare workers.

Carol Ball of Glasgow City UNISON said:
“Our concern is with child welfare. PSAs took their job to deliver education, not healthcare. Despite council claims PSAs are not receiving proper training to carry out what are medical procedures.

“And the Council can’t have it both ways, if PSAs have been trained and have the skills and responsibility of delivering these complex needs then the case for keeping them on the lowest level of pay collapses.

“We want the best possible support provided to Glasgow’s children so we are urging the council to actually negotiate with us rather than schedule meeting where they say nothing while spreading misinformation to parents who are quite rightly concerned for their children’s wellbeing."

ends

Information for editors:PSAs will be picketing to spread awareness of the dispute outside many city primary schools from 08:00 on Thursday 31 October 2013.

There will be pickets from 08:00 at a number of the Additional Support for Learning schools including:
Broomlea Primary School, 65 Stonyhurst Street, G22 5AX
Hazelwood Primary, 50 Dumbreck Court Glasgow, Glasgow City G41 5DQ

There will be a mass lobby of Glasgow City Council by PSAs at 12:00 George Square