Maths exam in progress (David Davies/PA)
(Picture: PA Archive)Fears have been raised that GCSE and A-Level results could be disrupted after staff at England’s largest exam board voted in favour of strike action.
In a ballot of Unison members of the AQA exam board, 71 per cent voted in favour of a strike. Unison said the turnout was above the 50 per cent threshold for a strike ballot.
But a spokesman said no decision on strike action has been taken yet.
If a strike does takes place there are fears it may risk delaying the exam results of thousands of students who were the first to sit exams for three years due to the pandemic. AQA insisted there would be no delays.
Unison North West regional organiser Lizanne Devonport said: “No one takes a decision lightly that could cause disruption to pupils.
“But staff have demonstrated they are clearly unhappy with the way they’re being treated and are prepared to take action.
“The union will now discuss the results with the employer and branch before a decision is made about the next steps.”
Unison and Unite unions have rejected what they say is a three per cent pay increase and a £500 payment for staff at AQA and claim the organisation is “failing its staff and pupils by holding down pay.”
AQA said the average pay increase will be 5.6 per cent.
AQA said threats of disruption are “nonsense” and “designed to needlessly frighten students and teachers.” A spokesman for the exam board said it has plans in place to ensure industrial action would not impact results day.
He said: “Our priority is always to make sure students get the results they deserve on time - and we have plans in place to make sure any industrial action wouldn’t affect that. It’s a shame that Unison is claiming otherwise, as this is wrong and only serves to needlessly frighten students and teachers.
“We’re giving our people a pay rise that’s affordable and higher than many organisations, so it’s disappointing we haven’t been able to reach an agreement with the unions. It’s clear that Unison doesn’t speak for the vast majority of our staff, as only around 5% of our workforce and well under half their own members have voted for industrial action.
“We’ve made exceptional concessions – so, after a lengthy dispute resolution process, we’re finally able to give our people the pay rise they’ve been waiting for since April, to help with rising living costs.”
AQA has around 1200 staff in total. It is believed that 163 people were entitled to vote in Unison’s ballot.
It comes as teachers at Richmond upon Thames College announced they will walk out on strike for 14 consecutive days in a protest that will disrupt the start of the new term.
They say a “fire and rehire” scheme will see them lose ten days of holiday.
Meanwhile at Holland Park School this week teachers are on strike for the eleventh time in a dispute about plans for it to join an academy chain.
And staff at Barnet and Southgate College are currently being balloted for strike action in a dispute over pay.
Members of the National Education Union have already said they want “inflation-plus” pay increases or they too will consider strike action.
