1000 school support staff to march on parliament over pay

More than 1000 teaching assistants and other school support staff are expected at a rally and march this Friday in Westminster.

These GMB members are employed at schools in Merton and Greenwich and are taking a second day of strike action, having previously downed tools on Friday 1 May.

Their dispute centres around London Weighting payments, whereby teachers in their schools receive the Inner London rate and they receive the lower Outer London rate – a difference of up to £1400 per year.

The workers will stage a rally in Old Palace Yard before marching to the Department for Education to take their message to senior politicians.

Nadine Houghton, GMB Regional Secretary said:

“This is an historic underpayment that our members are owed.

“As a dedicated school support staff union, it is non-negotiable to us that our members be treated equally with teachers in the self-same schools and receive Inner London Weighting.

“Since both local authorities are pleading poverty and burying their heads in the sand, our members have voted not only to take action but also to take their message to parliament.

“If the councils hadn’t been kicking the can down the road all summer, perhaps this second day of action might not have been necessary.

“If parents at any of the affected schools are concerned about the schools remaining open or about the safety of their children, they should contact school management, the councils directly or their local councillors and MPs.”