School support staff -Unison pay ballot

[Martinducrieff]

Just wondering if anyone has had an update on this? Last I heard it had reached the threshold ok, but as lots of respondents were from small employers (?) they were waiting for the ballot results from Unite. I’m a little confused. I’m also in a school where staff recruitment and retention is sadly awful.

Last I heard there'll be an update towards the middle of the half term so potentially 2-3 weeks time? I'll be striking if its called and, from staff room discussions, so are most of the other support staff I know.

Thank you for your reply @Iam4eels . It’s a bit grim, isn’t it.

Really grim, people don't seem to realise how much of our role relies on good will or how low that reserve of good will is running. They also don't seem to realise the scope of our duties and how low paid we are in comparison to the level of responsibility. To give an idea of how low the low pay is, colleague's husband had to go on long term sick leave and she had to give up her job because they could no longer afford for her to be a TA.

GMB are opening a ballot for industrial action next week, ending October 24th.

Fingers crossed it’s successful.

I wasn't allowed to vote as apparently my MAT wasn't included in the Unison ballot, and when I asked why got sent around in circles between regional and local branch and no one could answer my question.

So I've joined GMB as they actually visited my school and the local rep said we were eligible to vote.

@PinkFrogss yes, I saw that. I will be keeping my fingers crossed too.
@Iam4eels we are just struggling so hard to recruit and keep people and the role is becoming ever more difficult and complex. I’m in a SEN school.
@MrsWombat that’s incredibly frustrating, at least you’ll get your say with GMB.

I'm in mainstream. We have a high percentage of SEN children in school, partly because we have an excellent reputation for supporting SEN, and we're stretched so thin now due to poor staff retention. We've lost four LSAs in the last year who we cannot afford to replace which doesn't sound a lot but it's a small school (less than 200 pupils) so the remaining LSAs are picking up the slack. In my class of 27 children we have 9 with SEN which includes 4 with an EHCP, we also have three children with significant, ongoing safeguarding issues requiring support as well as a handful with medication requirements. There are two general LSAs for the whole class in the morning and one general LSA in the afternoon.

Does anyone know if this covers all support staff across eduction or just primary school

Not sure what you mean; it covers anyone who's in unison.

I'll be striking and I'm currently supporting my department in a work to rule. The goodwill ran out.

The pay increase will cover everyone's in primary school. I'm asking if this also covers support staff in other settlings

Yes, if you’re employed by local government.

Not sure where it stands for academies etc.

@Iam4eels It’s just getting tougher and tougher. We are a relatively small school too and I feel that some days it just feels like we are only treading water. As the needs in your school have increased significantly beyond what I think a mainstream school should be managing for the best outcome for the child, the needs in Special Schools have also gone beyond this point too. 😕

I always said I'd strike. Particularly for those support staff who couldn't afford to lose the wages to strike. Though a few days would be ok for me. I'm worried the longer term affects would be that due to pay increases that I'd be made redundant some how.

In Scotland we are striking with GMB and unite on the 26th, 27th & 28th.

I agree @choochooallaboard . I advised other support staff to vote, even if they themselves would not be in a position to strike. I am so sad it has come to this. The children in my school, the children in all schools, deserve qualified and enthusiastic people who are there to make a difference.

That’s interesting @Mawface . When did you get notified of this?

I'm sure it was Thursday. Gmb were to strike this week but had to change it as the other 2 unions said it wasn't enough time.

All schools and colleges who follow the NJC pay scale I believe.

I've heard zilch about England striking

I am a TA and completely agree about the number of SEN children in mainstream now being too high to manage - it’s detrimental to all the children and staff.
TAs absolutely need to be paid more for what they do. They are often teaching the most challenging children themselves.
The government needs to increase specialist schools.

Tas are not really supposed to be teaching unless they get special recompense for that

I am school support staff and a member of unison but could NOT get a ballot paper out of them. I’m thinking of changing union TBH.

I got an email on Thursday from Unison to say school strikes are taking place 26th, 27th and 28th September. Also in Scotland.

Thank you all for the info. I will keep you posted on what’s happening here. I have been in the Union all my life, but this is the first time I have really felt that there is no other option.