Cwestiwn ysgrifenedig WQ83361
- Gofynnwyd gan
- Andrew RT DaviesCeidwadwyr
- I'w ateb gan
- Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
- Cyflwynwyd
- Dyddiad ateb
- Atebwyd
- Amser i'w ateb
- 11 diwrnod
Cwestiwn
Mae'r cwestiwn a'r ateb yn Saesneg gan nad oes fersiwn Gymraeg ar gael.
Will the Minister state how many meetings and other engagements both he and his officials have held with Teaching Union representatives over the last three years, providing a yearly breakdown of meetings held and individuals met?
Ateb
Atebwyd gan Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
The Welsh Government is fully committed to working in social partnership. Engagement with education workforce trades unions takes many forms. Working in social partnership, including through regular meetings, provides for discussion of strategic and operational matters to help shape policy and delivery of key priorities.
There are 10 nationally recognised education workforce unions in Wales ASCL, NAHT, NEU, NASUWT, Voice, UCAC, UCU, GMB, Unite and Unison. These include six ‘Teacher’ unions of which two exclusively represent school leaders; three support staff unions; and one representing FE/HE staff; with a degree of overlap of representation across all unions.
I have met individually with teaching union representatives and also attended a number of forums and events with members since becoming Minister for Education and Welsh Language. This has enabled me to hear first-hand their experiences and views. My predecessor also regularly met with trades unions, both formerly and at fora at events.
Officials participate in formal meetings involving teaching union representatives on a regular basis. These include the Union Partnership Group, The Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Partnership Forum, the School Social Partnership Forum, and the Managing Workload and Reducing Bureaucracy Group. The Union Partnership Group meets every 6-8 weeks throughout the year. The Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Partnership Forum meets on multiple occasions each year (between September/November) to inform the pay process. The Schools Social Partnership Forum meets fortnightly, and the Managing Workload and Reducing Bureaucracy Group meets approximately every six weeks.
Additionally, Welsh Government officials meet trades union representatives both individually and collectively on an ad-hoc basis for a variety of reasons, in line with our approach to partnership working. During the pandemic the frequency of meetings has increased, with regular meetings to discuss matters such as the guidance developed to support schools.