Strike action begins at Tower Hamlets primary school over staff cuts
25 per cent of teaching assistants will lose their jobs while the workload remains the same, sparking fears about the impact on staff and pupil safety.
School support staff at St Luke’s Primary School in Tower Hamlets are today [Tuesday 1 April] starting strike action over reduced staffing levels.
A further walk out will take place on Thursday this week.
The strike ballot saw 100 per cent of participating members vote in favour.
A restructure at the school will cut the number of teaching assistants from 28 to 21 – a reduction of 25 per cent – while the overall workload is unchanged.
The school – which has a large proportion of pupils with special educational needs - has failed to demonstrate how these staffing levels will work in practice.
To date, the school has not shared a risk assessment outlining the impact of these cuts on the safety of the staff or children.
Jasmin Deans, GMB Regional Organiser, said:
“The school has failed to consider the consequences of losing a quarter of its teaching assistants.
“With increasing numbers of pupils with SEND and more challenging behaviours than ever before, it doesn’t follow that the school can safely reduce staff numbers.
“School support staff are already overworked and likely to suffer from work-related stress because of the demands being placed upon them.
“These cuts are seeking to exploit the goodwill of loyal, hardworking staff.”
