Featured Stories
National Education Union: Andy Burnham Appointed Prime Minister - Hope for a Fresh Start
LONDON, England, July 21 -- The National Education Union issued the following statement by General Secretary Daniel Kebede:
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Andy Burnham appointed Prime Minister: hope for a fresh start
Commenting on Andy Burnham becoming Prime Minister, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
"The National Education Union welcomes the appointment of the new Prime Minister and looks forward to working with him and his government.
"Upon becoming Labour leader on Friday, Andy Burnham said his government would be all about delivering hope for every young person.
"Educators
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LONDON, England, July 21 -- The National Education Union issued the following statement by General Secretary Daniel Kebede:
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Andy Burnham appointed Prime Minister: hope for a fresh start
Commenting on Andy Burnham becoming Prime Minister, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
"The National Education Union welcomes the appointment of the new Prime Minister and looks forward to working with him and his government.
"Upon becoming Labour leader on Friday, Andy Burnham said his government would be all about delivering hope for every young person.
"Educatorswill welcome this statement. Although teachers, support staff and school leaders do their best every day to achieve the very best outcomes for children and young people, after over a decade of austerity and chronic underfunding in our schools they feel that they are forced to do their jobs with one hand tied behind their backs. They have had enough of being told to do more with less.
"Delivering hope will require an end to unfunded pay awards that do not value educators and only serve to fuel the retention crisis in education.
"Delivering hope will mean that good intentions on SEND reforms are coupled with the investment that is so desperately needed to make them a success.
"On Friday our national executive confirmed a formal ballot in the autumn on pay and funding. It is simply not sustainable to continue to underfund pay offers - it can only translate into cuts to learning. Schools are already on their knees.
"As the academic year draws to a close, the new Prime Minister offers some hope for a fresh start and the delivery of the change that so many voters cried out for at the last election."
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Original text here: https://neu.org.uk/latest/press-releases/andy-burnham-appointed-prime-minister-hope-fresh-start?_locale=en
[Category: Union]
Wiki Workers United U.S. Branch Demands Voluntary Recognition from Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit that hosts Wikipedia
WASHINGTON, July 20 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO Communications Workers of America posted the following news release:
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Wiki Workers United U.S. Branch Demands Voluntary Recognition from Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit that hosts Wikipedia
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SAN FRANCISCO -Today, Wiki Workers United U.S. (WWU-US)/Communications Workers of America (CWA) demanded voluntary recognition from the Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit organization that hosts Wikipedia and sister projects. This request comes from a supermajority of union-eligible workers who have signed union authorization cards. WWU-US
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WASHINGTON, July 20 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO Communications Workers of America posted the following news release:
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Wiki Workers United U.S. Branch Demands Voluntary Recognition from Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit that hosts Wikipedia
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SAN FRANCISCO -Today, Wiki Workers United U.S. (WWU-US)/Communications Workers of America (CWA) demanded voluntary recognition from the Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit organization that hosts Wikipedia and sister projects. This request comes from a supermajority of union-eligible workers who have signed union authorization cards. WWU-USis organizing with the CWA to represent eligible U.S.-based workers.
WWU-US/CWA has set a deadline of Friday, July 24th, for the Wikimedia Foundation to respond to its request for voluntary recognition.
Recent events at the Wikimedia Foundation have drastically escalated worker concerns regarding transparency, trust, the organization's future, and leadership's commitment to the free knowledge movement. The Foundation's workers call on the organization to uphold its stated values and recent public commitments supporting the right to form a union [1][2], giving workers a promised and long-deserved voice.
This announcement follows a similar request for voluntary recognition[3] made by WWU-UK, the UK branch of WWU, represented by the United Tech and Allied Workers (UTAW), a national branch of the Communication Workers Union (CWU). Together, the two branches reflect a growing movement among Wikimedia Foundation workers to establish collective bargaining through the legal frameworks available in their respective countries.
WWU-US/CWA also extends its sincere gratitude to the volunteer community. Over 1,000 volunteers and community members who have collectively made more than 15 million edits have publicly signed petitions supporting Wikimedia Foundation workers and affirming the importance of giving workers a meaningful voice in shaping the future of the movement[4][5]. The WWU Organizing Committee is deeply appreciative of this extraordinary demonstration of solidarity.
"We are hopeful that the Wikimedia Foundation will honor their stated values and quickly come to the table so that we can verify that an overwhelming majority support the union. We are proud to support this group of dedicated and talented workers. We are also deeply grateful for the strong solidarity of the volunteer community, the backbone of Wikipedia and its sister projects, that has pledged to stand shoulder to shoulder with these brave workers." - Tim Dubnau, Organizing Director, Communications Workers of America
"We congratulate our colleagues in the United States on reaching this important milestone. While labour law differs between our countries, our shared goal is the same: ensuring Wikimedia Foundation workers have a meaningful voice in shaping their workplace." - John Chadfield, National Officer, Communication Workers Union
Wiki Workers United is a global solidarity union of Wikimedia Foundation workers committed to strengthening worker voice, transparency, equity, and shared stewardship. The WWU-US/CWA branch represents eligible U.S.-based workers seeking collective bargaining rights under the National Labor Relations Act.
For more information: https://wikiworkersunited.org
[1] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/User_talk:BMeehan-WMF#Update_from_Bernadette_May_24
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Village_pump_(WMF)&diff=prev&oldid=1355455480
[3] https://utaw.tech/news/wikipedia-recognition
[4] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wiki_Workers_United#Individuals
[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Wiki_Workers_United_solidarity#Signatures
About CWA : The Communications Workers of America represents working people in telecommunications, customer service, media, airlines, health care, public service and education, manufacturing, tech, and other fields.
cwa-union.org @cwaunion
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Original text here: https://cwa-union.org/news/releases/wiki-workers-united-us-branch-demands-voluntary-recognition-wikimedia-foundation
NTEU Wins Sweeping Victory in IRS Telework/Remote Work Arbitration
WASHINGTON, July 20 [Category: Union] -- The National Treasury Employees Union issued the following news release:
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NTEU Wins Sweeping Victory in IRS Telework/Remote Work Arbitration
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An arbitrator has ordered the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to restore telework for NTEU-represented employees, finding that the agency violated NTEU's negotiated collective bargaining agreement and a memorandum of understanding when it suspended most telework and remote work last year to comply with the President's memo ordering agencies to bring employees back to the office full-time.
While the contract
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, July 20 [Category: Union] -- The National Treasury Employees Union issued the following news release:
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NTEU Wins Sweeping Victory in IRS Telework/Remote Work Arbitration
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An arbitrator has ordered the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to restore telework for NTEU-represented employees, finding that the agency violated NTEU's negotiated collective bargaining agreement and a memorandum of understanding when it suspended most telework and remote work last year to comply with the President's memo ordering agencies to bring employees back to the office full-time.
While the contractprovision on telework and remote work sometimes allows the IRS to temporarily pause arrangements in limited cases, a neutral third-party arbitrator ruled that the agency violated NTEU's contract by eliminating all telework and remote work agreements. Moreover, the arbitrator ruled that the agency failed to show that such agreements have impaired IRS operations.
The arbitrator ordered the IRS to restore telework and remote work to levels from before March 8, 2025, when the agency terminated most employee agreements, and stop further violations of the negotiated article.
While the IRS has 30 days in which to appeal this decision to the Federal Labor Relations Authority, NTEU is urging the IRS to do the right thing and comply.
"IRS employees have been successfully teleworking for years, and reports show that telework is good for agencies, employees and the public they serve," said National President Doreen Greenwald. "Not only does telework save taxpayers money through reduced leasing costs, reduced energy expenses and increased productivity, it also boosts employee recruitment and retention, reduces traffic congestion and helps ease rising commuting costs. NTEU is ready and determined to continue fighting to enforce our win on behalf of the employees we represent."
This favorable decision follows a series of arbitration wins NTEU has secured against agencies stripping employees of their telework and remote work rights under NTEU-negotiated contracts. NTEU recently won similar arbitration decisions at Customs and Border Protection, National Park Service, Health and Human Services, Securities and Exchange Commission, Bureau of Engraving and Printing, a nd Commodities Futures Trading Commission.
NTEU represents 38 federal offices and agencies.
Contact: NTEU-PR@nteu.org, 202-572-5500
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Original text here: https://www.nteu.org/media-center/News Releases/2026/07/20/IRSTelework
Largest Federal Employee Union Endorses Missouri Reps. Bell, Cleaver for Reelection to Congress
WASHINGTON, July 20 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO American Federation of Government Employees issued the following news release:
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Largest Federal Employee Union Endorses Missouri Reps. Bell, Cleaver for Reelection to Congress
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Reps. Bell, Cleaver have 100% voting record on AFGE's top legislative issues
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. -The American Federation of Government Employees proudly announces its endorsements of Reps. Wesley Bell and Emanuel Cleaver from Missouri for reelection to Congress. The statewide primary is Aug. 4, and the general election is Nov. 3.
Rep. Bell represents Missouri's
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WASHINGTON, July 20 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO American Federation of Government Employees issued the following news release:
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Largest Federal Employee Union Endorses Missouri Reps. Bell, Cleaver for Reelection to Congress
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Reps. Bell, Cleaver have 100% voting record on AFGE's top legislative issues
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. -The American Federation of Government Employees proudly announces its endorsements of Reps. Wesley Bell and Emanuel Cleaver from Missouri for reelection to Congress. The statewide primary is Aug. 4, and the general election is Nov. 3.
Rep. Bell represents Missouri's1 st Congressional District, while Rep. Cleaver represents Missouri's 5 th Congressional District.
Both leaders have demonstrated a strong and consistent commitment to federal employees and working families. In 2025, each maintained a 100% voting record in support of AFGE-backed issues, standing firmly with federal workers during one of the most significant periods of attacks on their rights, including efforts to weaken collective bargaining protections.
"Representatives Bell and Cleaver didn't just talk about supporting federal employees; they showed up when it mattered most," said AFGE District 9 National Vice President Shane Reedy. "They had a 100% voting record for AFGE members in 2025 and proved they had our backs during some of the toughest fights we've faced. Now it's our turn to have theirs."
During the DHS shutdown, Rep. Bell went above and beyond for the members of AFGE Local 912 at St. Louis Lambert International Airport. While Transportation Security Administration officers worked without pay and faced tremendous uncertainty, Bell stood with our members, listened to their concerns, and fought to ensure their voices were heard. His commitment to working people and willingness to support federal employees during one of the most difficult periods in their careers did not go unnoticed.
Rep. Cleaver has been an equally reliable ally when it counted. He stood with AFGE members at a press conference to push back against DOGE's assault on the federal workforce and spoke out during the shutdown against threats to withhold back pay, joining a bipartisan call urging the administration to follow the law and make workers whole. He also opened his office to constituents, providing resources to federal employees navigating the uncertainty of the shutdown. Time and again, Cleaver has shown he understands what is at stake for the families who keep our government running.
Throughout the past year, AFGE members across Missouri have worked to push back against policies that threaten the federal workforce, including efforts to undermine workplace protections, cut benefits, and erode collective bargaining rights. Representatives Bell and Cleaver stood alongside AFGE members in these fights, advocating for fair treatment, respect, and dignity for public servants.
Nearly 53,000 federal employees live in Missouri -caring for veterans, supporting the military, and making sure Social Security recipients get their benefits accurately and on time.
AFGE is the largest federal employee union in the country, representing more than 820,000 federal and D.C. government workers in all functions of government. AFGE represents more than 56,000 federal employees in District 9, which includes Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma.
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Original text here: https://www.afge.org/link/8e649598b17e42459ffe052dac36f153.aspx
National Education Union: Reading for Pleasure Report Shows the Importance of Developing a Love of Reading
LONDON, England, July 18 -- The National Education Union issued the following statement by July 17, 2026, General Secretary Daniel Kebede:
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Reading for Pleasure report shows the importance of developing a love of reading
Commenting on the Education Committee report Reading for Pleasure, published today, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
"This report highlights the crucial work teachers and schools do to develop a love of reading from early years upwards
"It rightly identifies that competing curriculum demands are a major factor in the long-term decline
... Show Full Article
LONDON, England, July 18 -- The National Education Union issued the following statement by July 17, 2026, General Secretary Daniel Kebede:
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Reading for Pleasure report shows the importance of developing a love of reading
Commenting on the Education Committee report Reading for Pleasure, published today, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
"This report highlights the crucial work teachers and schools do to develop a love of reading from early years upwards
"It rightly identifies that competing curriculum demands are a major factor in the long-term declinein reading for pleasure among children, alongside rising poverty and lack of access to libraries.
"Increased school funding is needed so that the true potential of school libraries can be unleashed. These vital resources need up-to-date, diverse, high-quality books and professionally trained staff, rather than relying on overstretched teachers or volunteers.
"The current focus on reading proficiency over pleasure, combined with an overloaded curriculum and heavy focus on assessment, crowds out opportunities to show children the joy of reading.
"To rebalance this focus, SATs must be ended and the proposed Year 8 reading test - which will worsen the issues the report highlights - must be stopped in its tracks. Only then will we see a system that focusses on engagement, identity and enjoyment - as the report calls for.
"However, without urgent action on school funding, pay and teacher workload these recommendations will have a limited impact and we will miss a golden opportunity to support a generation to develop a life-long love of reading."
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Original text here: https://neu.org.uk/latest/press-releases/reading-pleasure-report-shows-importance-developing-love-reading?_locale=en
[Category: Union]
National Education Union: Oak National Academy Funding Increase
LONDON, England, July 18 -- The National Education Union issued the following statement by General Secretary Daniel Kebede:
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Oak National Academy funding increase
Commenting on the announcement of increased annual funding for Oak National Academy, to pound sterling22.8 million for 2026/27, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
"The government cannot plead poverty and shortchange schools on funding the pay offer to teachers, when projects like Oak continue to be kept alive.
"This is another example of government attempting to micromanage from the centre.
... Show Full Article
LONDON, England, July 18 -- The National Education Union issued the following statement by General Secretary Daniel Kebede:
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Oak National Academy funding increase
Commenting on the announcement of increased annual funding for Oak National Academy, to pound sterling22.8 million for 2026/27, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
"The government cannot plead poverty and shortchange schools on funding the pay offer to teachers, when projects like Oak continue to be kept alive.
"This is another example of government attempting to micromanage from the centre.If the new Prime Minister wants to show a shift away from centralised power, with decision making in hands locally, then moving away from Oak would do that.
"Too much money has already been wasted, and schools simply don't rate what Oak provides. It is a narrow and uninspiring model and should be a thing of the past. We need a clean break and a trust put in schools to use funding to make their own judgements on the teaching materials most likely to benefit young people."
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Original text here: https://neu.org.uk/latest/press-releases/oak-national-academy-funding-increase?_locale=en
[Category: Union]
NEU Snap Poll Confirms Teachers are Ready to Take Action on Pay and Funding
LONDON, England, July 18 -- The National Education Union issued the following news release:
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NEU snap poll confirms teachers are ready to take action on pay and funding
In an online snap poll, conducted this week, teacher members of the National Education Union who work in maintained schools in England were asked their views of the government's plan to only partially fund the pay offer of 3.5 per cent for 2026/27 and 3 per cent for 2027/28.
NEU pressure to date has resulted in the government shifting ground, from an unfunded to partially funded pay offer, and to an offer of 6.5 per cent
... Show Full Article
LONDON, England, July 18 -- The National Education Union issued the following news release:
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NEU snap poll confirms teachers are ready to take action on pay and funding
In an online snap poll, conducted this week, teacher members of the National Education Union who work in maintained schools in England were asked their views of the government's plan to only partially fund the pay offer of 3.5 per cent for 2026/27 and 3 per cent for 2027/28.
NEU pressure to date has resulted in the government shifting ground, from an unfunded to partially funded pay offer, and to an offer of 6.5 per centover two years rather than three. However, the government expects schools to find 'efficiencies' in their budgets to cover the remaining 1.1 per cent of the pay offer for 2026/27, which amounts to pound sterling460 million. Heads were informed of this on 1 July, leaving little time to plan budgets.
A snap poll of NEU members, conducted this week, found strong support for action on pay and funding.
* 97 per cent believe it is unacceptable that their school will have to find the money to make up the shortfall in government funding for the pay rise.
* The vast majority of those polled (89 per cent) said they would be prepared to take strike action to ensure any pay award is fully funded.
* Three quarters (76 per cent) said they would be prepared to take strike action to win an improved pay offer this year.
The survey was conducted between 11-17 July.
Informed by the findings of this poll, the National Education Union's executive has this week reaffirmed plans to proceed to a formal ballot of members in the autumn term on pay and funding.
The question on the formal ballot paper is to be confirmed, but the executive agreed it should be over a substantial increase in school funding and significant steps towards pay restoration. As previously announced, the ballot will launch on 3 October and close on 15 December.
Commenting on the findings of this snap poll, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
"We are at a crunch point. For well over a decade, schools have been asked to do more with less.
"The NEU has argued for and won more pay and funding, but it is not enough. Nothing short of a fully funded pay award and substantial progress towards pay restoration is needed, and our members agree.
"We want to fix chronic underfunding in our schools. It means bigger class sizes and crumbling buildings. It means teachers driven out of the profession. It impacts children's learning and parents can see that. The government's ambitions for SEND children cannot be met in the present circumstances.
"The incoming Prime Minister must look with fresh eyes at the state in which successive governments have left the education system. There is still time to plug the gap with the pound sterling460m that is missing, but we need to see a substantial increase in school funding more broadly as well as significant steps towards pay restoration.
"It is very clear that teachers will not put up with yet another government ducking their responsibilities. It is time to save education and we will."
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Original text here: https://neu.org.uk/latest/press-releases/neu-snap-poll-confirms-teachers-are-ready-take-action-pay-and-funding?_locale=en
[Category: Union]
