News / Cathedral Schools Trust
Staff at 12 schools vote to strike over back pay
Staff at a dozen schools across Bristol have voted to go on strike due to a dispute over back pay.
More than nine in ten support staff working for Cathedral Schools Trust voted to strike after saying they have been missing out on hundreds of pounds every year because of the trust’s alleged failure to implement annual pay awards on time.
Teaching assistants, administrators, librarians, finance officers, caretakers and caterers have agreed to strike on as-yet unconfirmed dates, which will likely lead to temporary closures of schools.
is needed now More than ever
Schools that are part of Cathedral Schools Trust include Cathedral secondary and primary schools, Ashton Gate Primary, Hotwells Primary and Trinity Academy.
Bristol24/7 also understands that the trust has allegedly not adopted the nationally agreed National Joint Council (NJC) pay rates over the past 16 years.
The trust did implement a pay rise when it was due in April but staff say that this does not make up for the many years in which they were underpaid.
Previous annual pay increases were allegedly delayed from April until the start of the school year in September, leaving staff without several months’ worth of pay increases.
Staff are now demanding five years of back pay, alongside a commitment to adopt NJC pay.
UNISON South West regional secretary, Kerry Baigent, said: “School support staff are the backbone of the education system. They support children’s learning and wellbeing every day.
“At long last, these workers have had a pay rise that’s been implemented on time, but that doesn’t undo the damage of the past.
“Staff have already lost thousands of pounds through delayed awards year after year.
“The Trust must do the right thing, pay the money back and commit to NJC pay rises so staff get the reward and respect they deserve.”
Teaching assistant Stephen, who works at St Werburgh’s Primary School, added: “Without the vital contribution of staff such as teaching assistants, mentors and office teams, schools in the trust simply couldn’t run.
“Their support is essential if children are to thrive.
“If the trust really values and respects the hard work and commitment of its staff, it must act now.”
In September, a merger between Cathedral Schools Trust and Trust in Learning was approved by the Department for Education.
A spokesperson for Cathedral Schools trust said: “We are committed to providing the best possible education and support for our pupils and highly value the integral role that our support and professional service colleagues play in helping us to achieve this.
“As such, we have been working closely with our staff and the unions to reach a resolution. Our board of trustees are meeting to consider the terms raised by some members, and we will continue to keep our staff and the unions updated on the outcome over the coming days.”
A spokesperson for the trust said: “We are committed to providing the best possible education and support for our pupils and highly value the integral role that our support and professional service colleagues play in helping us to achieve this.
“As such, we have been working closely with our staff and the unions to reach a resolution. Our board of trustees are meeting to consider the terms raised by some members, and we will continue to keep our staff and the unions updated on the outcome over the coming days.”
Main photo: Martin Booth
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