Strike action begins at Tower Hamlets primary school over staff cuts

School support staff at St Luke’s Primary School in Tower Hamlets have started strike action over reduced staffing levels. 

A further walk out will take place on Thursday this week. 

The strike ballot saw 100% of participating members vote in favour. 

A restructure at the school will cut the number of teaching assistants from 28 to 21 – a reduction of 25% – while the overall workload is unchanged. 

Jasmin Deans, regional organiser at GMB, said: “The school has failed to consider the consequences of losing a quarter of its teaching assistants. 

“With increasing numbers of pupils with SEND and more challenging behaviours than ever before, it doesn’t follow that the school can safely reduce staff numbers. 

“School support staff are already overworked and likely to suffer from work-related stress because of the demands being placed upon them. 

“These cuts are seeking to exploit the goodwill of loyal, hardworking staff.”

A spokesperson from St Luke’s said: “We have been in discussions with unions about the restructure that we are undertaking as, like most schools across the country, we are having to manage the pressures of declining birth rates, rising costs and falling rolls.

“While we respect that it is our colleagues’ right to strike, we are saddened that the members of the unions have decided to take industrial action on Tuesday 1st and Thursday 3rd April. 

“We have made significant efforts to try and avoid disruption to our children’s education and we are disappointed that earlier  talks did not reach a positive and pragmatic conclusion.

“We are planning to partially open for pupils in Year Six on these days of action as adequate arrangements can be made to ensure pupil’s safety and continuity of education.

“Unfortunately, this means that the school will be closed to all children outside of Year Six.

“We have not made this decision lightly, but we can ensure that these children are safeguarded, and that the quality of education will not be disrupted. We are also still able to provide fresh packed lunches for eligible pupils, which we know our community will appreciate.

“St Luke’s is an important part of the community on the Isle of Dogs, and we are working tirelessly to ensure that it remains so.”