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To: Patrick McKinney, Bishop of the Diocese of Nottingham

Email Bishop Patrick McKinney: Pause Proposals And Protect Our Schools!

Unison

School support staff at 14 schools within the St Ralph Sherwin Catholic Multi Academy Trust took 16 days of strike action in a long-running dispute over restructuring plans they said left them “demoralised” and would reduce pupil support.

Through their united action, and with the support of thousands of local people, they won a deal to protect their pay and contracts and reverse some of the planned cuts.

The agreement also includes a commitment to improve working arrangements, give staff more say in key decisions and greater transparency.

The resolution follows significant change within the trust. Former CEO Kevin Gritton resigned last month following pressure from staff and local MPs over his handling of the dispute. A petition calling for him to go was signed by more than 1,300 people.

UNISON members across Saint Ralph Sherwin and Our Lady Of Lourdes Catholic Multi-Academy Trusts (CMAT) are striking to protect their communities in what is believed to be the first CMAT support staff strike in UK history.

This is following proposals which would see some support staff pay fall by 25% alongside huge reductions in working hours to bail out Trusts that have overseen financial chaos.

Workers are asking for those wishing to support their fight to e-mail Bishop Patrick McKinney, who has responsibility for Catholic schools and academies in the region, to request a pause to this punitive proposal and seek a commitment from both Trusts to fully explore every possible source of funding.

Please use and adapt the template letter to make your thoughts heard by the Bishop and support the fantastic UNISON members fighting for their schools.

Why is this important?

Support staff across Saint Ralph Sherwin and Our Lady Of Lourdes Catholic Multi-Academy Trust are essential to the safety, learning and development of children in the Nottinghamshire Diocese. 

They go above and beyond to ensure pupils are supported and secure in their schools. They take pride in their work and their expertise, but have made the difficult decision to strike to protect their pupils, their livelihoods and the schools they hold so dear.

Workers have overwhelmingly rejected the insulting proposals that could slash their wages by up to 25%. If they go ahead as planned, they feel that the schools would no longer be the safe welcoming environments they have all worked so hard to foster.

94% and 98% of UNISON members that voted in their Trust specific ballot voted to strike and the first dates were held on 24th and 25th March making their voices heard and proving that schools can't run without them. 

Following successful peaceful protests at both Trust headquarters over the Easter Break, further strike dates for April and May have been announced.
Nottingham, UK

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Updates

2026-08-14 12:36:42 +0100

Petition is successful with 1,731 signatures

2026-03-24 21:18:00 +0000

1,000 signatures reached

2026-03-20 17:18:24 +0000

500 signatures reached

2026-03-19 17:42:33 +0000

100 signatures reached

2026-03-19 16:41:03 +0000

50 signatures reached

2026-03-19 16:15:14 +0000

25 signatures reached

2026-03-19 16:00:07 +0000

10 signatures reached