A major support staff union has said preparations are underway to ballot school employees over strike action, warning that a recent pay offer “falls short” of what is needed.
Local authorities have offered school support staff a flat pay rise of £1,925 from April, equating to 9.42 per cent for the lowest-paid employees and 3.88 per cent for the highest-paid.
But unions had asked for 12.7 per cent, and Unison has said it will be preparing a ballot to see if staff are prepared to strike.
The National Employers for Local Government Services group, which is part of the Local Government Association, negotiates pay on behalf of 350 local authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland that employ around 1.5 million workers.
Most local authority schools use the group’s pay scales. While academies have the freedom to deviate from them, many also follow the guidelines.
But the pay offer revealed last month did not meet what the three unions that negotiate with the National Employers - Unison, Unite and GMB - were asking for.
The threat of school support staff strike action
Mike Short, Unison’s head of local government, said that council and school staff are “caring for the most vulnerable, educating future generations, and keeping the local environment safe and clean”.
“These unsung workers deserve to be properly rewarded. But this offer falls short of what’s needed when the value of their pay has been chipped away for years and bills are soaring,” he added.
“Preparations are now underway to ballot council and school employees to see if they’re prepared to strike to achieve a better deal.”
Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said earlier today that local government employers needed to “enter into full pay negotiations and make a decent pay offer if industrial action is to be avoided”.
The union said local government representatives in Unite had rejected the initial offer.
GMB has been contacted for comment.
A spokesperson for the National Employers said: “The National Employers have today reaffirmed to the unions that their pay offer of at least £1,925 is full and final. They believe it is fair, given the wider economic backdrop.
“The employers are disappointed that all three unions have rejected the offer. Unison’s timetable for its industrial action ballot is particularly frustrating, as it means many months of uncertainty for employers and employees.
“This is despite the National Employers having moved swiftly to try to ensure employees receive their pay award as soon as possible.”
Support staff pay is negotiated separately to teacher pay.
The Department for Education has recommended a 3 per cent pay rise for experienced teachers from September, although this offer has not been confirmed by the review body.
