From Brent Branch of the Natioaal Education Union (NEU)
NEU members at Lyon Park Primary School are to strike in a fight to save support staff jobs which are proposed to go in a huge restructure. PICKET LINE OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL TUESDAY 7TH NOVEMBER 7.30-10am!
Staff at Lyon Park Primary School will be on strike to save the jobs and pay of their hardworking support staff. Many of these long-serving staff served the school’s community throughout the pandemic and face their jobs either being axed or a situation of “fire and rehire” to drop their pay. Teachers face a loss of support in the classroom and children will lose out on the vital support they need. The school has cited budget difficulties as the reason for the cuts. Ironically the school now has an expensive Executive Headteacher, who has not appeared at any of the restructure meetings to date and has not attempted any talks with unions.
100% OF NEU MEMBERS WHO VOTED IN THE BALLOT FOR STRIKE ACTION AT THE SCHOOL VOTED TO STRIKE OVER MULTIPLE DATES THIS MONTH.
Staff and their supporters will protest at a picket line outside the school from 7.30am Tuesday and will continue to try to negotiate with the governors in a bid to reach an agreement. Staff have shown willingness to accept voluntary redundancies but after a call for applications, the school have now said they cannot accept the applications.
Jenny Cooper of the NEU National Executive stated:
These striking members are the people who were on the Brent frontline in the pandemic; these are key workers, supporting vulnerable families and working daily with children from the Wembley and Alperton communities. They undertake difficult jobs every day and have expertise and knowledge that should be valued in our schools. If we can afford big sums for executive school leaders, we can afford to retain the pay of our frontline staff, and to fund those that request voluntary redundancy. The NEU will NOT accept fire and rehire and we remain hopeful the school will reach an agreement with us to resolve this dispute in which case the action could be suspended
Shame on Lyon Park Management for not appreciating their vital support staff and well done to the staff taking action on Tuesday.
ReplyDeleteBoo
ReplyDeleteYeahhh strike
ReplyDeleteTeachers on strike? Well that’s a surprise. It’s the kids I feel sorry for. Haven’t they missed enough?
ReplyDeleteSurely they'll miss a lot more if the support staff aren't there to assist their learning; whether that be scaffolding their learning to support those children who can't meet age related expectations or stretch and challenge those that can. But you are right it is the children that suffer and that's not fair!
DeleteCouldn't agree more
DeleteCompletely agree. So many of our students can’t learn without support staff - and schools don’t function without them either!! Good on them for striking ✊
DeleteThey are striking for the students, I'm sure of it! With any support staff the children will fall behind. The Belows will stay their, children who are SEND or EAL won't get good support! GDS students won't be challenged. The teacher will be filled with all the jobs the TA does as well as their planning and task that good teaching won't be able taught to it's best ability.
DeleteThe management at this school never have appreciated their staff
ReplyDeleteProud of Lyon Park staff for standing up for what's right!!!
ReplyDeleteIf Bent hadn't substantially over expanded their primary school provision this would not be happening. Which schools will be next? Just another sign of the council making Bent residents even poorer
ReplyDeleteThere need to be a restructure of the senior management by the sounds of it. The school’s staff must be on bended knees to strike like that, it’s great to see the teachers and teaching assistants stand united like that.
ReplyDeleteIf you take away the support the whole structure will crumble.
ReplyDeleteShame on the management who get paid large salaries! Are they getting a pay cut? You want to get rid of the heart and soul of a school, those on the lower end of the pay scale who work the hardest.
ReplyDelete