Unions threatens academy trust over job cuts
The David Ross Education Trust has been given a “final warning” by unions over job cuts as part of its £1 million saving scheme.
Eight unions representing teachers, leaders and support staff working for the trust have written to the chain’s sponsor, David Ross, saying that cutting staff could lead to a strike.
This follows plans by the trust to cut up to 40 support roles across its schools in a bid to save £1 million.
According to Schools Week, further talks between unions and the trust will now be overseen by the conciliation service Acas, and although leaders are hoping for a “swift resolution”, officials say the matter could escalate as far as a ballot of staff for potential industrial action.
It is the first time that all eight unions – the NUT, ATL, NASUWT, NAHT, ASCL, GMB, Unite and Unison – have threatened action on this scale against a single multi-academy trust in England.
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