Surrey Teaching Assistants vote to strike to protect jobs

GMB seeking talks or the members will be forced to take industrial action

GMB union members employed as Teaching Assistants at The Orchard Primary School in East Molesey, Surrey have voted overwhelmingly to take strike action to protect their jobs.

The school has implemented a restructure which would cull over a third of TA support hours.

Union representatives are now seeking to meet school management before giving notice of strike dates.

Helen O’Connor, GMB Membership Development Officer said:

“Our members work hard at the Orchard School to provide the highest level of support to the children in their care.

“Teaching support staff are absolutely vital to the development, wellbeing and safeguarding of the children at the Orchard Primary school.

“The school has implemented this devastating restructure without providing any evidence for their reasoning or looking at alternatives to cutting these jobs.

“What is also of great concern to our members is that the wishes and views of the parents have been completely ignored in this process as well.

“GMB is calling on school management to get around the table with us to discuss alternatives to this restructure or the members will have no choice but to embark on strike action to protect their jobs and the children at the school.”