Staff at more than 30 schools to strike over pay

Support staff in more than 30 London schools are to strike in a dispute over pay on Friday.

About 1,000 members of the GMB union in schools across Merton and Greenwich are in dispute with their employers over what the union described as a historic underpayment of London weighting.

Support staff are paid Outer London Weighting, and teachers in the same schools receive the Inner London rate. The union said the difference could be more than £1,000 for some staff.

Merton Council urged the GMB to cancel the strike action, saying it would affect children, families and other school staff. Greenwich Council has been contacted for comment.

Hannah Doody, CEO of Merton Council, said they recognised staff members' "legitimate concerns about pay" and said a national Schools Staff Negotiating Body (SSNB) was being set up to address the issue.

Doody said GMB wanted the staff to be paid using the council's general fund, which it was legally unable to use without permission from the secretary of state for education.

She said the council was working closely with the schools affected to help minimise any disruption.

Greenwich Council said it remains in discussions with the union and understands that 11 schools across the borough may be affected by strike action.

A spokesperson said: "We respect the right of unions to take industrial action.

"However, the best place for children is in the classroom, and we hope for constructive discussions to minimise disruption to pupils."

Greenwich Council said the pay gap has its roots in national agreements dating back to the abolition of the Inner London Education Authority in 1990, when teachers retained Inner London pay but support staff did not.

While teachers' pay is nationally protected, councils have discretion over support staff weighting.

There are five other London boroughs affected by the pay disparity, but they were not balloted for the strike.

Helen O'Connor, GMB senior organiser, said members felt "undervalued" and should be "treated equally with teachers" who receive Inner London Weighting.

"Talks have taken place separately with both councils, but no offer has been made to address this historic but ongoing underpayment," O'Connor said.

She added that any parents concerned about the strike action should contact school management, their council, councillors or their MP.

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