Unison South Tyneside

11/10/2026

Janet Green (Branch Secretary) and Jane Shortland (Branch Chair) proudly supporting The Silvergate Ball.

25/09/2026

As part of Welfare at Work Week
Seasonal Food fund opens 30th September.
The fund will open at 12 noon for 24 hours
Applications will only be accepted during this timeframe.
For more information
https://unison.org.uk/there-for-you/seasonal-food-fund

25/09/2026

🟣🟢 UNISON South Tyneside Local Government Branch responds to decision to close STANLEYS nurseries

UNISON South Tyneside Local Government Branch is deeply disappointed by the council’s decision to close all ten STANLEYS nurseries by July 2027. For the families who rely on them and the staff who have built trusted relationships with children, the decision brings considerable uncertainty.

💬 Jan Green, UNISON South Tyneside Local Government Branch Secretary, said:

“This is a devastating decision for the children, families and dedicated staff who depend on STANLEYS. These nurseries are part of their communities. Closing every one of them will have consequences that cannot be measured by the council’s budget figures alone.

“Parents need to know where their children will go, whether suitable places will be available locally and what those places will cost. Staff need honest, timely information about their jobs. The council must answer those questions now, rather than leave families and workers in limbo until the closures take effect.”

🤝 Standing with parents and staff

Parents and staff made a powerful case for keeping STANLEYS open. UNISON will continue to stand alongside them and press the council to reconsider its decision.

📋 Clear answers are needed now

The council must publish a clear plan for every nursery community affected. Families need details of suitable local childcare places and how children will be supported through any move. Staff need clarity about their jobs and meaningful support throughout the process.

UNISON South Tyneside Local Government Branch will continue to support its members and work with parents and other campaigners to defend accessible, high quality childcare in the borough.

24/09/2026

23/09/2026

SAVE OUR STANLEY'S – SOUTH TYNESIDE MUST LISTEN
Today, South Tyneside Council will make a hugely important decision about the future of STANLEY'S daycare nurseries.
For the families who rely on these nurseries, the dedicated staff who work in them and the communities they serve, this is about far more than figures on a spreadsheet.
More than 11,000 people have signed the petition to protect STANLEY'S.
That extraordinary response sends a clear message: people across South Tyneside value these services and do not want to see them disappear.
UNISON recognises the enormous financial pressures facing local government. But closing valued public childcare provision will have consequences.
Where will the children go? Is there sufficient affordable and accessible alternative provision? What happens to children who need additional support? What will it mean for working parents who depend on these nurseries? And what happens to the experienced and dedicated workforce that has provided this service to generations of local families?
Once high-quality public childcare provision is lost, rebuilding it will be extraordinarily difficult.
This campaign is bigger than any one organisation. Parents, grandparents, staff, trade unions and thousands of local residents have come together because they believe STANLEY'S is worth fighting for.
Tonight we will stand together again.
We are calling on councillors to listen to the strength of feeling across our communities and ensure every credible alternative to closure has been exhausted.
More than 11,000 people have spoken.
Now it is time for South Tyneside Council to listen.
SAVE OUR STANLEY'S

22/09/2026

Next week is Welfare at Work Week - if you're struggling financially, UNISON is here to support you.
A wide range of great resources are available to members who are having difficulty managing debt, budgeting, or just making ends meet.

Find further information here https://unison.org.uk/there-for-you or contact the branch to speak confidentially to our welfare officer

17/09/2026

‼ CONSULTATION OPEN ‼

If you are school support staff, look out for an email with your ballot on the proposed School Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSSNB). 📧

UNISON's SSSNB will be your dedicated voice and will reflect and recognise the realities your experience every day, helping to tackle issues such as unfair pay, term time only contacts and unrealistic expectations to cover additional workloads.

Plus, there will be no option for academies to opt out.

UNISON is running an online consultation between 15 September - 6 October, asking members: ‘Do you agree with the proposals?’. Our national School Sector Committee, made up of UNISON members, recommends you vote ‘YES’.

More information about SSSNB can be found at

A new deal for school support staff UNISON is at the forefront of work on exciting new legislation for school support staff in England Share this campaign Share on Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn School support staff deserve more Following the passage of the Employment Rights Ac...

14/09/2026

A new negotiating body for school support staff in England is launching soon and we want to hear your view - members will receive a voting link via email from tomorrow so make sure you let us know whether you agree with the proposals. Find out more at https://unison.org.uk/campaigns/new-deal-school-support-staff

A new deal for school support staff UNISON is at the forefront of work on exciting new legislation for school support staff in England Share this campaign Share on Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn School support staff deserve more Labour has committed to restoring the School Supp...

13/09/2026

Northern Region’s Women’s Network. A successful day. Following a talk about Stalking and Harassment, I have shared support organisations for victims (the legal term) who may not know where to turn.