Library news

• Staff shortages bite in colleges across the UK

  03-02-2022 17:47
  
  A new UNISON survey of almost 800 staff across further education roles in the UK found that nearly four in five (79.7%) were aware of shortages of support staff in their workplaces, and over half (53%) were aware of lecturer shortages.
  The problem is particularly acute in England, with far more shortages being reported than in the devolved nations. In some regions (Eastern, Northern, South East, South West and West Midlands), over 90% of respondents reported support staff shortages.
  When asked a
  
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• Inadequate energy support does nothing to ease misery, says UNISON

  03-02-2022 15:20
  
  Commenting on the measures announced today (Thursday) by the Chancellor aimed at cushioning consumers from soaring energy costs, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:
  “This support package is totally inadequate. It does nothing to ease the misery of families buffeted by price hikes in every direction.
  “The Chancellor has been less than generous. Governments elsewhere have been quicker to act and more supportive of struggling households.
  “This is a gamble tha
  
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• Blog: Levelling up – far too little, way too late

  03-02-2022 15:12
  
  It was 13 December 2019 when Boris Johnson gave his first speech as prime minister outside Downing Street. We were promised ‘a people’s government’, and he crowed: “We are going to unite and level up” – one of the slogans that helped secure the PM’s victory.
  But here we are, over two years later, and the government has only just published its Levelling Up white paper, touted as its strategy to reduce geographical inequalities in economic prosperity
  
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