£250 Claim For School Staff
Monday 28th February 2011
GMB CALL ON GOVERNMENT TO HONOUR ITS £250 COMMITMENT TO
PAY RISE FOR SCHOOL SUPPORT STAFF
The money is already in school budgets so support staff want to
know when they will get their pay rise says GMB
GMB, the union for school support staff, has demanded that
George Osborne and Michael Gove come clean and clarify whether they
will honour their commitment to a pay rise of £250 promised to
low paid school support staff.
There are over 400,000 school support staff in England. These
include kitchen and catering assistants, teaching assistants,
secretaries, cooks, caretakers, bursars, nursery nurses and
early years specialists. Suport staff play a crucial role in
supporting and contributing to the education and development of
children as well as supporting teachers in the classroom.
GMB, with Unison and Unite have today (28th February) submitted
a joint claim on behalf of support staff working in schools across
England, Wales and Northern Ireland 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.
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.
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 money is already in
school budgets so support staff want to know when they will get
their pay rise."
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."
End
Contact: Brian Strutton GMB National Secretary
07860 606 137 or Sharon Holder GMB National Officer 07713 508 725
or GMB press office 07994 251 823 or 07821 289880