St Ralph Sherwin Catholic Multi Academy Trust is planning to cuts the jobs and wages of school support staff, including Teaching Assistants. We do not believe that the cost of failure should fall on the least well paid, so we attended a rally at the trust's headquarters in Derby today.

The sun is out and our Sonya is outside, and has news of a drop-in session at The Quad, Monday 20 April.

Our April branch newsletter. If your a member of UNISON Derbyshire and you haven't received it, either we don't have your email or you're set to not receive circulars.

Happy Easter

You should have received an email with details of how to vote in the 2026 UNISON Service Group Elections. Please do so. This branch has nominated Sonya Pickford for the East MIdlands Region Female Seat.

🚨 UNISON WIN! 🎉 Healthcare assistants in South West London hospitals win major pay victory. Following walkouts and talks, hundreds of HCAs have won a back pay deal worth up to £7,000 for work they carried out on the wrong pay grade. When we stand together, we win! ✊💜 unsn.uk/3ObCpOY

A message from our Branch Secretary, Martin Porter> "My sincere thanks and admiration to all the school support staff who turned out on strike today and yesterday, at short notice and in terrible weather. This union exists for people like you, and I was proud to stand beside you. Solidarity."

School support staff at St Mary's Primary School, Glossop and St Charles's Primary School, Hadfield have been on strike today over plans to cut jobs and salaries.

School support staff on strike at St Mary's Catholic Primary School in Glossop and St Chlarles's in Hadfield today.

Why are Teaching Assisants at Catholic Academy Schools striking today? Here is the view from St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Glossop.

'UNISON regional schools lead Josie Lloyd said: “Slashing the wages of some of the lowest-paid employees, while expecting them to do the same or even more work, is neither fair nor sustainable.' www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/news/people/...

Well done to all the staff at Bennerley Fields care home in Ilkeston, who have achieved a top rating with the Care Quality Commission. We have always said Derbyshire County Council owned care homes are the best and we will never stop fighting for them. www.youtube.com/watch?v=79hb...

'UNISON Derbyshire Branch Secretary, Martin Porter, said: “This [care fee rates] increase, though welcome, is essentially irrelevant as Derbyshire County Council has lost control of the market across most of the county."' www.buxtonadvertiser.co.uk/news/people/...

Would you like to become a UNISON Learning Rep and help your colleagues gain skills, knowledge and confidence? If you are a member of this branch and you're interested, drop us a line at [email protected]

Our latest branch newsletter. If you are a member of UNISON Derbyshire and you haven't received it, that will be because we don't have your email or your setting are to not receive messages. You can change your details on My Unison. my.unison.org.uk

'NE Derbyshire District Councillor, Kathy Clegg, said: “The Grange is not just a residential care home. It is a lifeline. It is a place where people live with dignity, comfort, and safety. Every room, every corridor, holds memories, laughter, and care.' www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/news/people/...

Coverage on the BBC of our rally in Eckington to Save The Care Homes. We would prefer all these homes to stay publicly owned, but if selling them will save the residents homes and the staff's job we would agree to it. We know there is a buyer for The Grange in Eckington.

Coverage of our rally in Eckington yesterday on East Midlands today. We're on a 1 min 30 seconds. www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

UNISON general secretary Andrea Egan: “The Greens won because Labour under Starmer has abandoned progressive values, imitating the far-right instead of taking the fight to them.  If the government wants to survive, it urgently needs to stand up for workers and defend our fundamental values.”

UNISON Derbyshire stands against bullying in all forms, but especially against the bullying of women in senior positions by men. Natalie Fleet MP serves the people of Bolsover and does not deserve this.

'On the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full‑scale invasion of Ukraine, UK trade unions reaffirm our solidarity with Ukraine, its workers and their unions.' ukrainesolidaritycampaign.org/2026/02/23/u...

The Sun has set so ...

This is why we have a Migrant Workers Campaign www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

'UNISON Derbyshire branch sec Martin Porter said: “People are angry, but they’re also desperate for common sense to prevail. If there’s a way to keep homes like The Grange open, that must be better than shutting the doors and forcing residents to move.' www.carehomeprofessional.com/derbyshire-c...

UNISON Derbyshire branch secretary Martin Porter said: “People are angry, but they’re also desperate for common sense to prevail. If there’s a way to keep homes like The Grange open, that must be better than shutting the doors and forcing residents to move" www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/news/people/...

Here's Sonya Pickford to tell you it’s election time in the branch. If you haven't got your Ballot Form, contact [email protected] with 'Replacement Ballot Needed' in the Title. You must give your membership number in the email so we can cancel the first form issued.

"The UNISON union has stated that LGR in Derbyshire must be about levelling up communities and strengthening public services with proper funding and protection for employees and not about cutting costs or putting jobs at risk." www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/news/people/...

Over 2000 people have signed our petition to save Derbyshire's care homes. Have you? Please SIGN and SHARE www.megaphone.org.uk/petitions/sa...

"That prospective buyer is Matt Davison, who lived and was raised in Eckington, who now owns a care home 1.7 miles away in the nearby Sheffield suburb of Halfway, among other business ventures." www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/local-n...

UNISON East Midlands Regional Officer, Dave Ratchford, said “To be clear, this event is not a public rally and is more of a ‘silent vigil’ to mark the gravity of the planned closure of eight of the council’s remaining 12 residential adult care facilities." www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/news/people/...

On #HolocaustMemorialDay, we reflect on where the politics of division and hate lead.

After less than 24 hours our petition to save the eight care homes for older people at risk of closure has already passed 500 names. This is an excellent start, but we need more. Please SIGN and SHARE www.megaphone.org.uk/petitions/sa...

Merry Christmas to one and all.

𝗗𝗲𝗿𝗯𝘆𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲 🏡 Eight Derbyshire care homes are set to close, leaving elderly residents and staff in turmoil. UNISON warns months of delays and poor decisions have caused this crisis. Read more 👉 unsn.uk/derbyshirecarehomes

'Campaigners opposed to Derbyshire County Council’s long-running agreement to sell eight care homes have been shocked to learn the authority’s new Reform UK administration is being forced to revise its plans with feared closures.' www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/news/people/...

Ten days before Christmas, Derbyshire County Council is telling two hundred staff and fifty residents thier care homes are going to close. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Our Sonya Pickford has been out and about meeting some of the Wellbeing Coaches.

'Branch Secretary of UNISON Derbyshire Martin Porter said '“This is a huge victory for the SEND parents who protested, and will be very welcome news for our hard-working members. This result shows people power works.”' www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/news/people/...

A really huge THANK YOU to everyone involved in The SEND Sanctuary UK Every Pair Tells a Story protest at County Hall on 3 November 2025. Yesterday the Cabinet of Derbyshire County Council approved £1.3 million additional funding for the DCC SEND team, which will increase staffing in the team by 50%

Our monthly newsletter, which should have arrived in our inbox members inboxes earlier in the week, including an update on our SEND campaign

It was really wonderful to surprise Teaching Assistant Jade Shaw at English Martyrs Catholic Primary School yesterday, to give her a HIdden Heroes award. Jade was nominated by her colleagues for her outstand work and commitment to the children, so it was only fair we rewarded her.

We met waste collection workers from Alliance Environemental Services in Buxton at 5AM this morning. They are unhappy about new work practises and unrealistic demands, and refuse to listen to recycled arguments from management.

Solidari-Tea with Kaz Tweedie and the Teaching Assistants at St Charles' Catholic Primary School in Hadfield. We heard that some Teaching Assistants aren't allowed to have hot drinks during school hours, even though staff they work with are, so we're issuing all our TA members with screw top cups.

Introducing Matthew Kerry, our new Steward in Bolsover District Council. There's a lot going on at Bolsover at the moment, and they'll be more with Local Government Reorganisation. If you have a workplace issue contact us, and we'll get Matt on your case.

Our November newsletter, which should have arrived in the inboxes of our members earlier in the week. If you didn't get one, it's probably because we don't have a current email for you.

'In Derbyshire, the latest figures published by the authority in October show 8,778 children have an education, health and care plan (EHC Plan) which outlines their legal requirements for additional support in school, overseen by the county council.' www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/local-n...