Wales’ First Minister Eluned Morgan will announce that school support staff would receive year-round pay if Welsh Labour leads the next Welsh Government, leading to a pay rise for the lowest paid school workers. In Pembrokeshire County Council, there are over 1,000 school support staff who would feel the impact of this.

The First Minister’s manifesto pledge would expand the pay agreements and training opportunities of teaching assistants, cooks, cleaners and caretakers - those key workers who keep our schools up and running - ensuring fairness of opportunity for our school workers. This would be brought about by a new School Support Staff Negotiating Body established in law.

A recent report by Unison found that this policy would impact the lowest paid workers in school, most of whom are women. This is Welsh Labour going further to tackle in-work poverty and making work pay.

This report detailed that of the 1,090 school support staff working in Pembrokeshire, 92% are women. The number of support staff in the report does not take into account cleaning, grounds and catering staff so the number of people impacted by Welsh Labour’s pledge would be even higher.

Eluned Morgan will make the manifesto pledge at Unison’s Labour Link Conference in Cardiff today [Saturday, January 24].

This pledge comes alongside a wider commitment from Welsh Labour to fairness in the workplace. Welsh Labour has already committed to updating the Economic Contract if they lead the next Welsh Government. This mean that any business receiving Welsh Government support must pay the Real Living Wage, end exploitative zero-hours contracts and open the door to trade unions.

These pledges build on the crucial work the Welsh Labour Government has already done, working closely with unions and the UK Labour Government to strengthen workers’ rights.

The Welsh Labour Government worked alongside Unison and the UK Government on the Employment Rights Bill to ensure that, in Wales, unlike in England, both adult and children’s social care workers will be covered by Fair Pay Agreements. When this was put to the Senedd, Plaid Cymru refused to support it, turning their backs on Wales’ social workers.

The Fair Pay Agreement will make the Real Living Wage legally enforceable for over 80,000 social care workers in Wales, provided it receives backing from the Welsh Government. If they lead the next Welsh Government, Welsh Labour have committed to this, whereas Plaid Cymru refused to do so.

Fairness is at the heart of Welsh Labour’s offer to the Welsh public going into the 2026 election. Fairness isn’t just about cushioning people from harm; it’s about rewarding effort with visible progress. Welsh Labour protected universal services and social protections when the Tories cut or privatised. When Reform UK voted against workers rights again and again, it was Labour that stood up for them.

This manifesto promise is a commitment to make opportunities at work fairer. It’s the second proposed policy announced this month by the party, following the pledge to bring in a £2 fare cap for adult bus fares alongside 100 new routes.

In her speech to Unison Labour Link Conference, First Minister Eluned Morgan will say: “Our school support staff - teaching assistants, administrative staff, caretakers, lunchtime supervisors - the people who keep our schools running, support our children, and make inclusive education possible. They are the backbone of our education system.

“Yet for far too long, too many of them have been among the lowest-paid workers in public service. Too many are not paid year-round. Too many miss out on training and professional development. Too many feel undervalued despite the responsibility they carry every single day.

“That is not fair. And it is not right. Under Welsh Labour, that will change.”

Cabinet Secretary for Education Lynne Neagle MS said: “With Welsh Labour, the crucial school support staff who keep our schools running and support our most vulnerable learners, will see their pay boosted and opportunities broadened.

“Standing side by side with trade unions is at the heart of the Labour Party, supporting workers and boosting workplace rights.”

Unison has long campaigned for better rights for school support staff as well as social workers and have welcomed the manifesto pledge.

UNISON Cymru regional secretary Jess Turner said: “Term-time only pay has meant that tens of thousands of school support staff endure in-work poverty, despite them being essential to the education workforce in Wales.

“A school support staff negotiating body for Wales could finally correct this historic wrong. It would be a transformative change for a workforce that educates children, supports families and holds schools together, yet has been undervalued.

“This is something UNISON Cymru members have campaigned for over many years, and Welsh Labour’s pledge reflects the strength, determination and organisation of our school-based membership.”