Support staff at The Stonehenge School balloted over strike action

GMB, the union for school support staff, is balloting over a dozen support staff members at The Stonehenge School.

GMB said that the alleged “changes to working practices” include being asked to complete work during their allotted lunch breaks. 

GMB regional organiser David McMullen said: “This is a great example of job creep, where staff are all of a sudden expected to start doing additional duties in their designated break periods, for no extra money.

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“If the leadership team do not start listening to our members, they may well find themselves having to close the school, with these key support staff downing tools.”

The ballot opens on Monday, June 10 and closes on Monday, July 1.

A ballot must be held before industrial action can be taken, and a strike can commence if there is a majority in support of doing so.

The Stonehenge School has denied asking support staff to complete work during their allotted break.

Headteacher at The Stonehenge School Mrs C Dean said: “In order to support the growth of the school and the changes in accommodation and social spaces as part of the re-development of our site we have recently been consulting with support staff.

“This consultation has been focused on implementing a duty rota that supports pupils’ learning, self-esteem, inclusion and behavioural development during social time.

Salisbury Journal:

“We are not asking staff to work longer hours, to miss lunch breaks or to do anything different to what their job description entails. No formal allegations have been made. If any are made we will always investigate.

“Throughout the process, it has been our aim to work with all of our school staff to support our pupils, in order to ensure that they are placed at the heart of the improvements that we aim to achieve. 

“We will continue to work with staff to explore solutions, as we have demonstrated throughout the consultation by responding to the issues raised via regular meetings with their union representatives in attendance.”

Salisbury Journal | News