Support staff to strike at schools group

Support staff will take strike action on Thursday at a group of schools, following proposals that would see some lose up to 22% of their salary, a union says.

The National Education Union (NEU) said members working as support staff at Codsall Multi-Academy Trust in south Staffordshire would be involved, and further action was scheduled for 22, 23 and 24 June.

Progress had been made in negotiations with the employer, but discussions around pay protection had "now stalled", the union said.

The trust, which runs St Nicholas CE First School, Birches First School and Codsall Middle School in the village near Wolverhampton, said it was "facing significant financial pressures".

The NEU said members voted to take industrial action on a turnout of 78% with 100% voting "yes to challenge a consultation proposing changes to teaching assistant and other support staff contracts which would see some lose up to 22% of their salary".

The union stated it was still hopeful of a resolution.

On Monday, Staffordshire NEU branch secretary Rebecca Cann said it had asked the academy trust "to meet with us again to further discuss their financial modelling".

The academy trust said on Tuesday it fully recognised proposed changes "may have a financial impact for some colleagues, and this is not something the Trust has approached lightly".

In a statement, it said: "Like many schools and trusts nationally, we are facing significant financial pressures and have had to consider difficult proposals to secure the long-term sustainability of our schools."

The trust added it had engaged with staff and recognised unions throughout the consultation process, listened to feedback and "put forward a three-year transitional protection arrangement to support those affected".

It stated it recognised the strength of feeling among some support staff, respected their right to take lawful industrial action and was open to "constructive discussions".

The trust said its priority was to "minimise disruption for children and families while continuing to provide a safe, supportive and high-quality education across our schools".

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