School support staff voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action when balloted by the National Education Union. The union announced that 84% of school support staff and 83% of staff in sixth-form colleges voted yes when asked if they would support strike action over pay.
However, despite an overwhelming majority, the turnout for the ballot was just 46% in schools and 36% in sixth forms. This means that the vote didn’t meet the Government’s threshold, and as a result staff will not be walking out alongside teachers.
The Government policy dictates that a union must ballot its members if they are to consider strike action. Under the law, all industrial action ballots must reach a 50% turnout with a majority voting in favour of strike action.
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Were support staff balloted?
The National Education Union balloted its support staff members in schools and sixth form colleges. In England, a ballot result of support staff in schools saw an 84.13% majority vote YES on a turnout of 46.46% while in sixth form colleges, a ballot result of support staff saw an 83.56% majority vote yes on a turnout of 36.23%.
This means that despite the votes that were cast being in favour of the walkout, the vote did not meet the 50% turnout required by law. Therefore support staff will not be striking.
Who is classed as school support staff?
Anyone who works in the education sector can be considered to be support staff. The NEU says that “teaching assistants, examination officers, technicians, librarians, lecturers, managers, administrators and ancillary staff” are eligible to become members.
Why would support staff be striking?
The unions are seeking a pay rise for 2023 that is both above inflation and fully funded. As of yet, it is unclear when or if the union will try the ballot for strike action again.
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