Support staff in more than 30 schools are to strike in a dispute over pay.
Support staff in more than 30 schools are to strike in a dispute over pay. Members of the GMB union in schools across Merton and Greenwich in London will walk out on Friday.
They are in dispute with their employers over what the union described as a historic underpayment of London weighting, where support staff get paid Outer London Weighting and teachers in the same schools receive the Inner London rate. The union said the difference can be more than £1,000 for some staff.
Helen O’Connor, GMB senior organiser, said: “Our members have been fighting for this pay equality for years now and have voted for strike action as they’ve had enough of being undervalued.
“Talks have taken place separately with both councils but no offer has been made to address this historic but ongoing underpayment.
“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.
“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.”
Around 1,000 workers are involved in the dispute.
