Berkay Kartav
More than 1,000 GMB union members working as school support staff in Greenwich and Merton went on strike on Friday 9 October.
Over 500 strikers gathered outside parliament in a magnificent show of strength, sending a clear message to Burnham’s Labour government that support staff will fight for their demands. The rally outside parliament was then followed by a march to the Department for Education.
They are on strike because teachers in Greenwich and Merton receive the Inner London weighting, whereas support staff working in the same schools receive the lower Outer London weighting – a difference of up to £1,400 per year.
They were previously on strike in May, but their demands for fair, equal weighting haven’t been met yet by Merton and Greenwich councils.
There was a lot of anger directed against the Labour government, with many telling us they expect Andy Burnham to actually deliver funding for schools and increase support staff pay.
Both Merton and Greenwich councils are led by Labour. The union has said that both councils have been ‘kicking the can down the road’ and dodging their responsibility. They should pay up now and demand the money from Burnham!
Schools are crumbling after years of underfunding. Both teachers and school support staff are expected to pick up the slack while facing the same cost-of-living crisis and funding crisis. Joint action is crucial for a united campaign to fight for a fully funded pay rise for all school staff and properly funded schools!
