Merton school support staff balloted for strike action

Staff are losing around a thousand pounds every year and are sick of waiting

GMB members working as school support staff within London Borough of Merton will be balloted for strike action over a long-standing pay discrepancy.

TAs and school support staff within LB Merton receive London Weighting at the Outer London rate, while their teacher colleagues in the same schools receive the higher Inner London rate – a difference of £1400 per year on average.

Despite members having submitted a petition of more than 500 signatures last year, discussions with the Labour local authority to find a resolution to this problem have now broken down.

The ballot will open on 27 February with any action to take place in the run up to the upcoming local elections in May, in which Labour Councillors will be up for re-election.

Alex Etches, GMB Regional Organiser said:

“Staff in Merton schools work incredibly hard but are being treated unfairly by a Labour authority who should be ashamed of this arrangement.

“Staff are losing around a thousand pounds every year due to this con and they are sick of waiting for Labour Leader Ross Garrod to do what is right and moral.

“Our message to the Labour group is clear: rectify this historic and ongoing pay injustice and there will be no need for any action while you are concentrating on getting re-elected.”