School support staff walk out in equal pay dispute

Support staff workers gathered in the rain to protest outside Birmingham City Council's offices

Hundreds of support staff from 35 schools in Birmingham are taking part in fresh strikes in an ongoing dispute over equal pay claims.

Up to 800 GMB Union members, including cleaners, teaching assistants, and receptionists, gathered at the city's Victoria Square.

They have accused Birmingham City Council of delaying the settlement of workers' equal pay claims.

The council said a new approach to job evaluation to "settle Birmingham’s equal pay issues once and for all" was agreed with trades unions last year and it remained committed to "settling all legitimate claims".

Clare Shuttleworth said none of the support staff wanted to go on strike

The dispute relates to claims staff in female-dominated roles have historically been underpaid when compared to men.

Clare Shuttleworth, a teaching assistant, said staff felt they were being taken for granted.

"We're here four months later because again, nothing's changed," she said.

"There have been meetings, but there's been nothing constructive that's come out of those meetings.

"We don't want to affect the education of those children that we nurture every day, but we literally have no choice.

"We're hoping that they'll [the council] come forward with something concrete."

Alice Reynolds, from the GMB Union, also said staff did not want to strike.

"It's not every day you see people walk out of schools, especially support staff, they love their school communities and their dedication is huge," she said.

"So I think the council appreciates that this is something that doesn’t happen very often and therefore they know they need to do something about the equal pay crisis."

Support staff from 35 schools are taking part in the fresh strike action

The action follows similar walk-outs in May, and Ms Reynolds added further action could take place, after 15 further schools were balloted over the issue.

"Unless we see real progress, there isn't another alternative, really," she added.

A Birmingham City Council spokesperson said it had been engaging with GMB and Unison for many years on equal pay.

"A new approach to job evaluation to settle Birmingham’s equal pay issues once and for all was agreed with the Trades Unions in October 2023, they said.

"The council is keen to work together with our recognised unions to explore solutions, as it remains committed to resolving historic equal pay issues and settling all legitimate claims from our employees.”

The Birmingham schools where GMB members have gone on strike are:

• Arden Primary School

• Beeches Junior School

• Benson Community School

• Boldmere Infants & Nursery School

• Bordesley Green East Nursery School

• Bordesley Green Primary School

• Chad Vale Primary School

• Cherry Orchard Primary School

• Chilcote Primary School

• Clifton Primary School

• Colmore Infant & Nursery School

• Colmore Junior School

• Elms Farm Primary School

• Forestdale Primary School

• George Dixon Primary School

• Gunter Primary School

• Harborne Primary School

• Hodge Hill Girls School

• Jakeman Nursery School

• James Watt Primary

• Kings Heath Primary School

• Lozells Junior & Infant School

• Marsh Hill Nursery

• Minworth J & I School

• Nelson Mandela School

• Newtown Nursery School

• Redhill Primary School

• St. Benedicts Infants

• St. James C E Primary School Handsworth

• Stanville Primary School

• Wheelers Lane Primary

• Worlds End Junior School

• Yardley Primary School

• Yardley Wood Community Primary School

• Yorkmead Junior & Infants School