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UNISON’s Andrea Egan speaks out on union-busting at Leicester school

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  • Post last modified:20 June 2026
UNISON’s Andrea Egan speaks out on union-busting at Leicester school

UNISON general secretary Andrea Egan has insisted that she will ensure “the full force” of the union works to hold an academy trust to account for its union-busting at a Leicester school. Andrea Egan: ‘I will not tolerate this’ The Canary has been following developments closely since an academy special school in Leicester controversially suspended union rep Tom Barker. Amid accusations of union-busting, workers at the school overwhelmingly voted in favour of strike action. And their campaign has escalated in recent weeks. Egan, who joined the picket line with these striking workers on 4 June, highlighted her “profound solidarity” at UNISON’s…

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Support staff at Leicester school to escalate strike campaign

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  • Post last modified:8 June 2026
Support staff at Leicester school to escalate strike campaign

Teaching assistants, residential workers, and other support staff at Ash Field Academy, a Leicester SEND school, completed their third day of strike action on Thursday 14 May. They’re demanding that Discovery Schools Academy Trust (DSAT), which runs the school, reinstates their trade union rep, Tom Barker. DSAT suspended Barker from Ash Field on 30 October 2025. This was just four working days after the closure of a ballot in which UNISON members voted for strike action over staffing cuts. DSAT linked the suspension to unspecified conduct concerns. Almost seven months on, DSAT has still produced no evidence to support any allegations…

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