Sandwell school workers strike

Posted by Finbar Bowie
Monday 1 June 2026
GMB Trade Union - Sandwell school workers strike

Workers from The Orchard School have been pushed to the edge, says GMB.

Teachers, Teaching Assistants and Midday Supervisors will begin strike action in Sandwell next week as part of the ongoing dispute at The Orchard School.

The strike is joint action between GMB, the union for school support staff, and NASUWT, Britain's teachers union.

Ninety workers at the school are anticipated to join the strike action which comes weeks after overwhelming support for industrial action in a recent ballot of staff at the school.

Workers are furious after school bosses failed to respond to grievances and concern raised about student and staff safety at the facility. 

Rachel Fagan, GMB Organiser, said:

“These school workers have been pushed to the edge and forced to take action.

"From unreported health and safety violations, to missed pay packets, workers are standing up to do what's right by them and the students they care for.

"We've written to Sandwell's new leadership to demand they take action in the face of a groaning list of serious problems at the school.

"This strike action will send a clear and loud message that Sandwell's school workers will not be taken for granted".

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