AT the Trades Union Congress yesterday morning there were motions demanding more funding for education, and better wages and conditions for all staff working in schools, colleges and universities
Moving motion 39, Pushpa Mark from the GMB union told the Congress: ‘I have worked as a support staff for nearly 25 years, with disabled pupils.
‘We are not just an extra pair of hands, we are vital. We need to have a genuine voice.
‘We demand pay justice and better working conditions. We demand that the government values what we do. We demand the School Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSSNB) is used to get what we need.’
Glen Williams, from Unison, said: ‘All support staff are vital and they are overworked and underpaid.
‘They do many jobs in classrooms, in the playground. They help administer medicines. They provide school meals.
‘We want Unison members in schools, we want the SSSNB to be able to do what it is supposed to do. We want pay justice, pay justice, pay justice!’
Moving motion 40, Dyfrig Jones from the University and College Union (UCU) said: ‘We have been facing cuts in funding at sixth forms, the same in Further Education colleges and in higher education and at universities – it is across the board.
‘We demand an end to the cuts, and an increase in funding. We demand a 10 per cent pay rise – we have fallen below the pay rates of teachers in schools.
‘We want a return to the national negotiating table. Over the last year there have been strikes in colleges and universities all over Britain.
‘There has been massive outsourcing where staff at the same workplace may work for different companies which is ridiculous.
‘We will continue to fight for students and for lecturers and all education workers.’
Speaking on the health motion 40, Paul Robinson, Royal College of Podiatry, said: ‘There have been repeated failures over the last decades. Privatisation and outsourcing have increased.
‘They have weakened the NHS which means that retaining NHS workers has become increasingly difficult.
‘Only the trade unions have stopped it from being even worse. There has to be change on pay. Restore pay to above pre-Covid levels in real terms. NHS workers must be valued and we will fight for this.’
Gareth Bromhall from the GMB union said: ‘NHS workers work through exhaustion and worsening conditions and pay.
‘Many workers have not received an above-inflation pay rise for over ten years.
‘The GMB has been clear in discussion with the government – we are not happy to accept pay austerity.
‘We demand reform, that NHS pay and conditions are improved. Increase the NHS budget.’
