Unions call on government to honour its £250 commitment to school
support staff
28 February 2011
Trade unions representing school support staff have demanded
that George Osborne and Michael Gove come clean and clarify whether
they will honour their commitment to pay the £250 promised to low
paid school support staff (see notes to editors) .
Unison, Unite and the GMB have today (28th February) submitted a
joint claim on behalf of support staff working in schools across
England for an increase of £250 from 1 April 2011. The money for
the increase has already been set aside within the schools budget,
so there is no excuse for not honouring the commitment.
Support staff include, kitchen and catering assistants, teaching
assistants, secretaries, cooks, nursery nurses and early years
specialists. The staff play a crucial role in supporting and
contributing to the education and development of children across
England, as well as supporting teachers in the classroom.
The joint union claim submitted as members of the SSSNB (School
Support Staff Negotiating Body) should be applicable to all school
support staff earning under £21,000 a year. The unions have written
to Mr P Ashmore OBE, Chair of the SSSNB asking for an urgent
meeting to discuss the claim. The unions have also sent a copy of
the letter to Rt Hon Michael Gove, Secretary of State for
Education.
Christina McAnea, UNISON national secretary said: "We’re calling
on George Osborne and Michael Gove to come clean. Will they ensure
that school support staff get the £250 promised or is this just
another U-turn by this government?"
Peter Allenson, Unite national officer said: "School support
staff ranging from teaching assistants to caterers demand fairness
in the classroom. They make a vital contribution to the education
of our children. Central government have provided the funding for
staff earning under £21,000 to receive £250. This claim is
therefore both affordable and the right thing to do."
Brian Strutton , GMB national secretary said: "All we ask is
that George Osborne and Michael Gove keep their promise to pay
school support staff a £250 pay rise - the same as all the other
similar staff they are responsible for. The money is already in
school budgets so support staff want to know when they will get
their pay rise."
ENDS
Contact details:
Unison: Rebecca Findley on 0207 551 1555 or 07771 716354.
Unite: Ciaran Naidoo on 07768 931 315.
GMB: Brian Strutton on 07860 606137.
Notes to editors: At the 2010 emergency budget, the Chancellor,
George Osborne said: “Today, because we have had to ask for a two
year freeze, I extend the protection to cover the 1.7 million
public servants who earn less than £21,000. Together they make up
28% of the public sector workforce. They will each receive a flat
rate pay rise worth £250 in both of these years, so that those on
the very lowest salaries will get a proportionately larger
rise.”
