5-6 May 2023

UCAC’s annual conference 2023 was held at the Coldra Court Hotel near Newport on 5-6 May 2023.  The conference provided an opportunity to discuss matters pertaining to education, in formal meetings as well as informally.

The proposals which came to the delegates’ attention were a reflection of the matters which are currently at the forefront of education in Wales - matters relating to working conditions, the Curriculum for Wales, the Welsh Education Bill.  These matters will undoubtedly be a topic of further discussion within the union during the forthcoming months.

Our speakers’ themes this year were the latest digital developments and the Curriculum for Wales.   Meredudd Jones spoke with enthusiasm of the work he has accomplished in the field of Information Technology and how he fostered pupils’ and staff’s confidence in digital matters during the pandemic and subsequently.  Alan Thomas-Williams spoke with the same passion about the Curriculum for Wales and shared his experience of working with a cluster of schools in the process of planning and delivering the Curriculum for Wales.  Following both presentations, delegates were given the opportunity to ask further questions. 

 03 February 2023

Ioan Rhys Jones, UCAC’s General Secretary was amongst the speakers at the Wales TUC Protect the Right to Strike Rally in Cardiff on 1 February.  The rally was held in Cardiff in response to the steps which are being taken by the Government in Westminster to introduce anti-union legislation which would limit the rights of individuals to strike.  The prospective legislation would mean that employees could be forced to work, despite having voted in favour of striking in a democratic ballot.  Ioan said, “It is important that we protect workers’ freedom and safeguard their right to voice their opinion and to take action to protect their pay and working conditions.  UCAC is proud take a stand in order to protect its members rights.”  

21 November 2022  

The School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions (Wales) Document is now available on the Welsh Government’s website.  

Please find below links to a written statement from the Minister for Education and Welsh Language accepting all the Independent Welsh Pay Review Body’s recommendations for 2022/23 and to the revised School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions (Wales) Document 2022.   

https://gov.wales/written-statement-teachers-pay-award-2022 

https://gov.wales/school-teachers-pay-and-conditions-wales-document-2022 

If you are working part-time and in receipt of a TLR, remember that it is important to check with your Headteacher whether you are eligible to receive the TLR in full. 

7 November 2022 

Following a public consultation on proposals to change statutory induction arrangements for newly qualified teachers in Wales, changes come into force from 7 November 2022.

Changes include:

• allowing induction to be undertaken in PRUs
• introducing flexibility: ABs have discretion to reduce the length of the induction period for NQTs who can demonstrate that they meet the standards in less than three terms / 380 sessions
• introducing a time limit for the satisfactory completion of induction

Revised guidance on all the changes has been published on Hwb.

10 October 2022

In a meeting held on Thursday, 6 October 2022, UCAC’s National Council decided to go ahead with arrangements to seek their members’ views in an industrial action ballot.   The ballot will be held in response to Welsh Government’s offer of a 5% pay increase for teachers as well as due to teachers’ increasing work load.  The union is calling for a pay increase in line with inflation rates and also wishes to ensure fair working conditions.  

Ioan Rhys Jones, UCAC’s General Secretary said – “We are disappointed that Welsh Government’s offer does not reflect inflation rates neither does it represent our teachers’ dedication and commitment.  Currently the profession is facing working conditions which are increasingly challenging alongside rising living costs.  We are facing notable challenges in terms of retaining teachers and recruiting new members to the profession.

The decision whether to take industrial action is not easy for our teachers who are genuinely concerned about their pupils’ wellbeing and success.  However, in order to ensure that our children and young people receive education of the best possible standard, it is crucial that teachers are fairly remunerated and have appropriate working conditions.”