On October 20 2025, UNISON members at Ash Field Academy, a special educational needs school in Leicester, voted to take industrial action over inadequate staffing levels, excessive workload, and health and safety. Staffing levels at Ash Field, which was taken over by Discovery Schools Academy Trust (DSAT) in 2024, have been diminishing over the last year as DSAT sought to make savings.
Combined with a redundancy consultation that took place shortly before the 2025 Summer break, this led to the loss of approximately 10% of the school’s workforce, mostly from frontline workers. These cuts have greatly increased the workload of the remaining staff, stretching them to the point that their health and safety is at risk.
The union, which represents around 100 members at the school, completed a formal industrial action ballot on 20 October. 86% of members voted in favour of strike action, on a turnout of 60%.
Just three working days after the result of this ballot, UNISON’s lead steward at the school, Tom Barker, was suspended from his duties. Tom was given no prior warning of a complaint and was escorted from the premises.
This is a disgraceful act of trade union victimisation and potentially places DSAT outside the relevant employment laws. Tom’s suspension is a direct attempt to silence union members and victimise their rep who also now sits on the UNISON’s National Executive Council (NEC).
To support the campaign, we ask the following:
- Sign and share the open letter initiated by Leicester and District Trade Union Council demanding Tom’s reinstatement
- Raise this model motion in your trade union branches to demand Tom’s reinstatement
- Write to DSAT’s Leader and Chair of Trustees demanding Tom’s reinstatement using the following model letter
- Write a message of solidarity with Tom and UNISON members at Ash Field Academy by writing to their branch, Leicester City UNISON (unison.leicestercity@gmail.com) and share this message on relevant social media channels
