School strike action planned in dispute over pay and jobs 

Support staff at Saint Mary’s Catholic Voluntary Academy in Glossop and St Charles Catholic Voluntary Academy in Hadfield are set to take strike action next week, as part of a dispute over pay cuts and jobs.

Workers across the Our Lady of Lourdes and Saint Ralph Sherwin Catholic Multi Academy Trusts have voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action, saying they have been pushed “to breaking point” by proposed changes that could see some staff lose more than 20% of their pay.  

The strike will involve employees in 22 schools, and is expected to affect teaching assistants, administration staff, midday supervisors and chaplaincy teams.  

Union representatives say the proposals would mean staff are expected to do the same, or more, work despite having fewer colleagues and significantly reduced pay.  

Staff involved in the dispute say the changes will have a serious impact not only on employees but also on pupils who rely on support staff every day.  

One union spokesperson said the cuts could “devastate families” and warned that reducing support roles would leave children without the help they need in the classroom and during the school day.  

Josie Lloyd, regional schools lead for the union, said: “These workers are the backbone of our schools. Cutting their pay so brutally is unjustifiable - and our members will not let children’s support be dismantled this way.” 

Karen Tweedie, a teaching assistant at St Charles Catholic Voluntary Academy in Hadfield and a Unison representative, said she has worked at the school for 23 years and believes the proposed changes would have a major impact on both staff and pupils. 

She said: “I have worked here for 23 years and the Trust’s proposals would have a significant impact on my role in school as well as my financial situation. All our TAs are affected by these possible changes. 

“As is happening in all the affected schools, the proposed restructure could lead to a reduction in roles and the amount of support available for the children. 

“This proposal has had a detrimental effect on the health and well-being of affected staff, who are not only concerned about their own future, but the impact this will have on the safety and the education of the children.” 

Strike action is planned for 24th and 25th March, when staff across the trusts are expected to walk out unless the dispute is resolved. 

The Chronicle contacted Saint Ralph Sherwin Catholic Multi Academy Trust for comment. Kevin Gritton, Chief Executive Officer at the St Ralph Sherwin Catholic Multi Academy Trust, said: 

"As an academy trust we are responsible for ensuring that we spend in line with the money that we are allocated. All of our employees are aware that collectively, as a group of 25 schools and centrally, we are in a financially challenging situation, like many other schools and academy trusts across the country. 

"We are working closely with the Department for Education on a financial recovery plan and we are very grateful for the support that we are receiving from the DfE. As part of this plan, we have announced proposed changes to staffing structures at some schools and our central team and we are now in a phase of consultation with those affected. We hope to achieve the savings we need to through voluntary means and compulsory redundancies would always be a last resort. 

"We understand that this is a difficult time for staff, particularly those affected, and they are being fully supported throughout this process. Discussions with union colleagues are also underway and we are consulting with all stakeholders involved. 

"Throughout this period we remain firmly committed to delivering excellent education and care for the young people we serve at schools across our trust."