Nursery World - Strike action looms over 'final' pay offer

School support staff in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are being urged to vote for strike action over pay after local authority employers refused to increase a 'final' offer of a 3 per cent rise. Unison, the UK's largest union, began balloting its 250,000 education workers, which include nursery nurses, teaching assistants and school administrators, on 10 June. It is demanding a 6 per cent increase or 1,750, whichever is greater, and said the 3 per cent offer would mean a rise of 15p an hour for the lowest-paid in the sector.

Unison, the UK's largest union, began balloting its 250,000 education workers, which include nursery nurses, teaching assistants and school administrators, on 10 June. It is demanding a 6 per cent increase or 1,750, whichever is greater, and said the 3 per cent offer would mean a rise of 15p an hour for the lowest-paid in the sector.

Christina McAnea, the union's national official for education staff, said, 'The Department for Education and Skills is putting the emphasis on support staff taking more and more responsibility, but it is only offering them a pathetic 3 per cent.

'The staff don't take strike action lightly. But the time has come to send a message to employers that we won't tolerate low pay.'

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