Joint trade union press release - Unions call on government to honour its £250 commitment to school support staff

Monday, 28 February 2011 12:00 AM

Unions call on government to honour its £250 commitment to school support staff

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."

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