At the moment unions must send a ballot by post to every member’s house, which is then posted back. That’s expensive, time consuming and excludes many members from having their say. It discriminates against younger members who are more likely to move house so their ballot is posted to an old address, as well as workers who work away from home for long periods such as pilots or sailors. The government’s own review found that some disabled people, such as those with sight or mobility restrictions, are “substantially disadvantaged” by postal balloting. Many unions already use online ballots to consult their members on issues such as pay offers and potential strike action. It’s also supported by the public: when polled, 53% of Britons said that trade unions should be able to use online balloting, and only 1 in 5 said it wasn’t appropriate. The Conservative Government commissioned a review into electronic voting which reported in December 2017. It concluded that pilots of electronic ballots should be started in trade unions. Shockingly, the government has said absolutely nothing since Sir Ken Knight’s report was published almost five and a half years later. It’s simply not right that this Conservative Government allows its own members to vote for their leader and Prime Minister by online ballot, but does not allow trade unions to do the same. Sign this petition and we can bring union balloting into the twenty first century.

The benefits of free school meals for Primary School pupils are many. Common sense and research shows, well fed children make greater progress in the classroom. Results go up, absence goes down. The benefits will outweigh costs, as they do in Finland, Estonia and Cuba for example. A 2022 analysis of UK costs and benefits by Pricewaterhouse Coopers is clear. (Commissioned by Impact on Urban Health.) Benefits include: - an increased cost saving to schools, increased lifetime earnings by children when they reach adulthood, which means a greater tax contribution. - increased savings on food costs to families and NHS savings, as obesity and ill health decrease. PwC estimated, the overall wider benefit for society by expanding free school meals between 2025 and 2045 would be a staggering £99.5bn. In his automated email response, Isle of Wight MP, Bob Seely writes, he is: “pushing hard every day to [ensure] .... no one is left behind.” Between autumn 2018/19 and autumn 2022/23, the number of Isle of Wight children eligible for income-related free school meals increased from 2,452 to 4,008. We need to push harder. Free schools meals for all will help ensure far fewer young children on the Isle of Wight are left behind. This is why we urge you to sign this petition before the Week of Action 24-30 June. It is our chance to mobilise the Isle of Wight and dial up pressure on the Government and our MP to pass the Free School Meals for All Bill. You may also wish to sign the national petition at https://actionnetwork.org/forms/join-the-week-of-action/?source=emailshare&. On behalf of all primary children present and future, we thank you very much for reading and signing.

In one of the wealthiest nations in the world no young person should ever risk going hungry or live in poverty. The Scottish Government have the power to expand universal free school meal provision to all pupils as a means to help reduce poverty, mitigate hunger, and ensure that all young people can eat, grow and learn together with dignity. Urge the new First Minister to commit to expanding universal free school meals to all pupils in Scotland.

Arts and culture jobs in Northern Ireland are at risk. The Department for Communities has formally advised Arts Council Northern Ireland that it faces a funding reduction, translating to a 10% cut to all funded arts organisations in North Ireland. This means that planned performances and community projects are already at risk. This decision would be made without democratic scrutiny, whilst Stormont isn't sitting. The evidence is clear that investing in the arts boosts the economy, supports mental health, physical health, social wellbeing, and community cohesion. And in a cost of living crisis, this is a deep cut. We need more investment not less. Sign this petition to call on the Permanent Secretary at the Department for Communities to reverse this proposal.

The UK is in the midst of a “cost of greed crisis” as working people’s incomes fail to keep up with soaring inflation. It is no surprise that this has a negative effect on ordinary families who are struggling to pay basic household bills. In Glasgow over 24% - 152,000, people have said they are experiencing moderate to severe levels of food poverty. This is against the backdrop of companies such as Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Asda nearly doubling their combined profit to £3.2 billion in 2021 compared to 2019. Our two demands are: 1. End means-based ‘free’ school meals and provide school dinners for all children. 2. Eradicate school meal debt - WON!

Schools Support staff are vital to the running of our Schools and the education our Children. We believe the success of our School and the education they provide will be badly affected by these proposals. School Support staff are some of the lowest paid staff in Schools and proposals to cut their wages in the middle of a cost of living crisis is harsh and wrong.

Help protect staff jobs and our libraries for current & future generations. We need at least 750 signatures from people who work, live or study in Hackney to be considered by the full council at Hackney Town Hall in November!

No matter their postcode, every young person deserves face to face teaching from a qualified and professionally registered teacher. No matter their postcode, every young person deserves the same high standards of teaching as a first choice and a priority. No matter their postcode, every young person deserves to learn in a safe, accessible, and encouraging environment. This is entirely contrary to the position which the EIS believed had been agreed with remote learning platform provider, e-Sgoil, locally. A further statement from the EIS Local Association is https://www.eis.org.uk/Western-Isles/Statement EIS members are asking that: • Further clarity is given on these proposals. E-Sgoil is not a presenting centre, it is not a school. It is a remote learning platform provider and has a national role as such. It should not be used to undermine physical teaching and learning in the Western Isles. • Full consultation be undertaken with parent councils, pupils and staff via their trade unions – as is the recognised mechanism for consultation. • Status quo remains until agreement is reached on these proposals. • The maintenance of face-to-face teaching as a first choice; and a • A fully funded teaching provision on sustainable permanent contracts as a priority. Further EIS priorities for the local election can be found https://www.eis.org.uk/Western-Isles/Manifesto Add your name to the petition and show the Comhairle you support the call for face to face, fully qualified teachers to provide education in Na h-Eileanan an Iair/Western Isles. #ValueEducationValueTeachers #ComhairleMustConsult

Becoming an academy has profound implications for children and young people, parents, staff and the local community. The decision to apply for academy status is made by the school’s governing body, which is required to consult with ‘appropriate’ persons. We believe that it is essential that there should be full consultation with parents and the local community about such an important decision. We have grave reservations about academy status. We believe that any change to the school should be one that makes a positive difference to children’s educational attainment and there is no evidence to show that Stockbridge Village Primary School becoming an academy would raise educational standards. We hope that having considered all of the information, you will share our view that the high level of risk involved in academy status far outweighs any of the suggested advantages and decide to cease seeking academy status. The decision to become an academy is irreversible. There is no going back!

Girls' Day School Trust is threatening to leave the national Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS) at 23 of its schools. This could mean a significant reduction in the pension entitlements promised to hundreds of teachers. There is no excuse for teachers at GDST schools to be threatened with cuts to their pension rights given the financial position of the employer. All teachers deserve certainty over income in retirement. The alternative defined contribution scheme proposed by GDST would leave teachers with an inferior pension for teachers and their families. Furthermore the unacceptable proposals would also allow GDST to reduce the amount it pays in employer pension contributions in future years - further cutting the value of teachers' pensions (i.e deferred pay) in future years. This is not an honourable position for any good employer to take and, if implemented, these changes will seriously damage the reputation of GDST. We call on GDST to withdraw its proposals to leave TPS and to commit to working with the NASUWT on a way forward in the interests of teachers and pupils. GDST has enough funds to offer teachers fair pensions. The Trusts finances are in a healthy condition with total funds of £461.9 million and available reserves of £43.1 million as of August 2020. Whilst the fees payable by parents have increased, additional investment should prioritise teachers at GDST. Despite claims by the employer, there is no confirmation that pension contributions to be paid by the employer will increase. The proposed changes are therefore an unnecessary and unjustified attack on the terms and conditions of dedicated and highly-skilled and professional teachers. Teachers make a school successful. GDST, as an employer, needs to value and invest in the school workforce. There is no justification for them cutting pensions. There is a recruitment and retention crisis in education and attacking pensions and threatening to dismiss and re-engage staff on inferior terms and conditions of service is not the way to encourage them to remain with GDST or to motivate them to deliver the best possible education for pupils. Teachers deserve a decent pension. Keep GDST in the Teachers' Pension Scheme and withdraw these threats to teachers.

Cutting funding will have a devastating impact on these subjects, resulting in course closures, job losses and severely affecting efforts to widen participation. Universities in areas with a higher number of students from disadvantaged backgrounds would be particularly vulnerable to the proposed cuts. We cannot allow these cuts to strip away their access to arts subjects. The UK is a world-leader in the creative and performing arts. These subjects should not be the preserve of a privileged few. We need to mount a quick and effective fightback against this government’s attacks on the creative and performing arts. Join us and tell Prime Minister Boris Johnson that the arts should be for everyone - and that the cuts should not go ahead. This campaign is supported by University and College Union (UCU), Equity UK, BECTU, Writers Guild of Great Britain, Musicians’ Union, Unison and Unite https://mcusercontent.com/ebd004a8047907dc47d269fd1/images/c695fc2c-48f6-c2c8-3057-e9aabe03bdfb.png

Poverty and inequality were already at an unacceptably high level in Scotland well before the Coronavirus pandemic struck, and we have grave concerns that such socio-economic disadvantage has only intensified, especially for children and women. The Scottish Government’s commitment to significantly reduce Child Poverty by 2030, with a view to ultimately eradicating it, and the creation of the new Scottish Child Payment Benefit is welcomed by the STUC Women’s Committee. Similarly, we welcome the Deputy First Minister’s pledge to expand free school meals provision to all Primary school pupils if the SNP retain power at the 2021 Scottish Parliament Elections. However, we strongly believe that further urgent action to mitigate child poverty is required immediately. The Scottish Government have the power and resources to go further in introducing progressive policies that can more strongly mitigate poverty and inequality and make life-changing differences to children and families now. Firm and decisive action on child poverty in Scotland cannot be further delayed. That is why the STUC Women’s Committee is calling on the Scottish Government to expand Universal Free School Meals to all children and young people, including those of Secondary school and Nursery age, with immediate effect. Moreover, we are calling on the Scottish Government to combat holiday hunger by ensuring that there are programmes and provisions in place in all of Scotland’s local authorities so that all children and young people have access to sufficient food during the school holidays. Our most vulnerable children, young people's right and access to a nutritious meal should not be determined by chance of the local authority they live in or based on the goodwill of community volunteers. We know that the roots of the poverty-related attainment gap stretch well beyond the school gates, but the significant role our educational institutions play in tackling poverty, challenging inequality, and helping to build a healthier, more inclusive society cannot be underestimated. We strongly believe that the introduction of Universal Free School Meals will not only help to combat hunger and poverty but will shatter the stigma and shame associated with the provision of meals on a means tested basis and will fuel young people’s ability to learn in the classroom. Neither empty tummies nor low self-esteem make for full days of learning in school. Furthermore, this progressive policy sends a clear and positive message to the rest of the devolved nations and beyond that we are serious about ending poverty in Scotland, and that we are genuinely committed to educational equity and to the wellbeing of our young people. Sign the petition today and email the First Minister showing your support.