UNISON has been balloting its members working in Academies over the summer and during September and the results are now available. Due to the complexity of the fragmented academy landscape, the ballots were separated into those for individual school academies which were then aggregated and ballots for Multi-Academy Trusts. The results below show the aggregated result and result for the Multi-Academy Trusts we have within West Sussex:
Individual Academies (aggregated results)
Results for industrial action in the form of strike action
YES: 68.6%
NO: 31.4%
Ormiston Academies Trust
Results for industrial action in the form of strike action
YES: 73.0%
NO: 27.0%
Woodard Academies Trust
Results for industrial action in the form of strike action
YES: 70.8%
NO: 29.2%
The Kemnal Academies Trust (TKAT)
Results for industrial action in the form of strike action
YES: 82.7%
NO: 17.3%
Clearly these are overwhelming YES votes, and the Branch is delighted that our members in Academies in West Sussex have voted to join the national industrial action on October 14.
The Branch therefore calls on all members to join the action. Members in Academies will have the same entitlement to access hardship funds as other striking Branch members.
If members working in Academies wish to organise a picket line at their school, please contact the Branch office. Otherwise, we are calling on members to join the picket lines already arranged for the 6 County Council hub buildings. Contact the office to let us know which picket line you and your colleagues will attend.
Due to the increasing complexity of employment and industrial action law in the UK, not all academy schools in West Sussex have been balloted. United Learning members have not been balloted and so should not strike on October 14. If you received a ballot paper, then your academy is now able to join industrial action.
The full list of Academies taking strike action is available to download.