Ed Miliband yesterday warned that average pay will be no higher in 2015 than it was in 2003, quoting figures published by the Resolution Foundation think-tank.
He said that a ‘cost of living crisis’ is hitting the working class and middle class in a speech to a Resolution Foundation meeting in central London.
However, he offered no way forward, warning that this crisis will continue ‘even if the economy recovers’.
His speech came as trade unions representing school support staff demanded that Chancellor Osborne and Education Secretary Gove ‘come clean and clarify whether they will honour their commitment to pay the £250 promised to low-paid school support staff.’
Unison, Unite and the GMB yesterday submitted a joint claim on behalf of support staff working in schools across England for an increase of £250 from April 1st 2011.
The joint unions said: ‘The money for the increase has already been set aside within the schools budget, so there is no excuse for not honouring the commitment.
‘Support staff include kitchen and catering assistants, teaching assistants, secretaries, cooks, nursery nurses and early years specialists.’
The joint union claim submitted as members of the SSSNB (School Support Staff Negotiating Body) should be applicable to all school support staff earning under £21,000 a year.
The unions have written to P Ashmore OBE, Chair of the SSSNB asking for an urgent meeting to discuss the claim, and have also sent a copy of the letter to Gove.
Christina McAnea, Unison national secretary, said: ‘We’re calling on George Osborne and Michael Gove to come clean. Will they ensure that school support staff get the £250 promised or is this just another U-turn by this government?’
Peter Allenson, Unite national officer said: ‘School support staff ranging from teaching assistants to caterers demand fairness in the classroom.
‘They make a vital contribution to the education of our children.
‘Central government have provided the funding for staff earning under £21,000 to receive £250. This claim is therefore both affordable and the right thing to do.’
Brian Strutton, GMB national secretary, said: ‘All we ask is that George Osborne and Michael Gove keep their promise to pay school support staff a £250 pay rise – the same as all the other similar staff they are responsible for.
‘The money is already in school budgets so support staff want to know when they will get their pay rise.’
