A solution must be found before this worrying issue spirals out of control.
schools
![](https://www.unison.org.uk/content/uploads/2015/10/schoolmeal-235x130.jpg)
UNISON forced catering company Dolce to pay workers thousands of unpaid wages after cutting their hours
Minimum service levels in schools could take away right to strike entirely
Dedicated staff using food banks and cutting back on heating to cope in cost-of-living crisis
![Stars in our schools](https://www.unison.org.uk/content/uploads/2023/09/Screenshot-2023-09-25-at-16.32.31-235x130.png)
Stars in Our Schools is back, and this year there’s a special focus on early years education. But hurry – the deadline for ordering all your fantastic Stars merch is 6 October
Number of schools with Raac rises to 174
![](https://www.unison.org.uk/content/uploads/2020/05/school-235x130.jpg)
‘We now have the absurd situation of government departments ringing schools days before term begins, telling them to prepare for potential building closures’
![busy classroom with children sitting on the floor](https://www.unison.org.uk/content/uploads/2022/02/classroom_school-745x420-1-235x130.jpg)
Research reveals that many headteachers in primary and secondary schools in England are having to cut staff, IT equipment, trips and more as the funding crisis bites
![Empty school classroom](https://www.unison.org.uk/content/uploads/2022/01/bigstock-Empty-School-Class-During-Scho-377304358-745x420-1-235x130.jpg)
No 10’s Living with COVID plan ‘is likely to result in further illness and disruption to face-to-face education’
![School meal worker serving children](https://www.unison.org.uk/content/uploads/2022/01/School-meals-235x130.jpg)
UNISON has written to the 20 biggest catering companies to urge that they review their sick pay policies in order to help keep staff and pupils safe
Stopping the virus in its tracks and keeping pupils and communities safe should be a top priority