From Dailymail · · 4m
Labour accused of sidelining dinner ladies in 'disgusting' move
Labour's pay rise for teachers funds from support staff pensions sparks union fury.
In brief
Labour's pay rise for teachers funds from support staff pensions sparks union fury. Labour's decision to use school support staff pension savings for teacher pay rises faces backlash from GMB union over alleged diversion of funds. Originally reported by Dailymail.
Labour accused of sidelining dinner ladies
Labour has been accused of sidelining dinner ladies in a 'disgusting' move to fund teachers' pay rises.
“Labour has been accused of sidelining dinner ladies in a 'disgusting' move to fund teachers' pay rises”
GMB union furious
The GMB union is furious that a saving made from the school support staff pension scheme is being diverted away, despite individual pensions remaining unaffected.
“The GMB union is furious that a saving made from the school support staff pension scheme is being diverted away, despite individual pensions remaining unaffected”
Pay rise funding
The windfall is going to be spent on fully funding a pay rise for teachers, but the union is arguing it should go towards boosting support staff pay and benefits instead.
“The windfall is going to be spent on fully funding a pay rise for teachers, but the union is arguing it should go towards boosting support staff pay and benefits instead”
Support staff composition
GMB's 100,000 school support staff members include dinner ladies, caretakers, receptionists, librarians and teaching assistants, who are the 'poorest paid group in education'.
“GMB's 100,000 school support staff members include dinner ladies, caretakers, receptionists, librarians and teaching assistants, who are the 'poorest paid group in education'”
Pay rise comparison
Support staff are only getting a 3.3 per cent pay rise this year, while teachers are getting 3.5 per cent.
“Support staff are only getting a 3.3 per cent pay rise this year, while teachers are getting 3.5 per cent”
Pension scheme surplus
The row erupted after it emerged a surplus in the Local Government Pension Scheme means schools can make employment contributions of, on average, 4.9 per cent less this year for support staff members.
“The row erupted after it emerged a surplus in the Local Government Pension Scheme means schools can make employment contributions of, on average, 4.9 per cent less this year for support staff members”
Pension impact
This will not result in any cut or adverse effect on individual members' pensions.
“This will not result in any cut or adverse effect on individual members' pensions”
Education Secretary announcement
Lucy Powell, the Education Secretary, revealed yesterday that schools will be able to use the savings to fund this year's teacher pay rise.
“Lucy Powell, the Education Secretary, revealed yesterday that schools will be able to use the savings to fund this year's teacher pay rise”
GMB's criticism
Stacey Booth, GMB national officer, said: 'School support staff are already paid a pittance for nurturing, feeding and helping to educate our children. To take money from their pensions to give others a pay rise is completely disgusting. Ministers should be ashamed of themselves, if they can't fund a pay rise they should have the guts to admit it rather than stealing the money of others.'
“Stacey Booth, GMB national officer, said: 'School support staff are already paid a pittance for nurturing, feeding and helping to educate our children. To take money from their pensions to give others a pay rise is completely disgusting. Ministers should be ashamed of themselves, if they can't fund a pay rise they should have the guts to admit it rather than stealing the money of others.'”
NEU threat
Yesterday's announcement from Ms Powell came in response to the National Education Union (NEU), which is mostly made up of teachers, threatening strikes over their pay rise not being 'fully funded'.
“Yesterday's announcement from Ms Powell came in response to the National Education Union (NEU), which is mostly made up of teachers, threatening strikes over their pay rise not being 'fully funded'”
School funding concerns
Schools had originally been expected to fund roughly half the pay rise from their existing budgets, raising concerns over staff cuts.
“Schools had originally been expected to fund roughly half the pay rise from their existing budgets, raising concerns over staff cuts”
Strike ballot
A formal strike ballot had been planned for this autumn, with walk-outs expected after Christmas.
“A formal strike ballot had been planned for this autumn, with walk-outs expected after Christmas”
Pension savings impact
However, under the new arrangement, around £500million will be made available from the pension scheme savings, meaning there will no longer be a shortfall.
“However, under the new arrangement, around £500million will be made available from the pension scheme savings, meaning there will no longer be a shortfall”
NEU response
NEU General Secretary Daniel Kebede said today of the GMB comments: 'Not one support staff pension has been cut, this is a fall in what employers pay in, set independently by actuaries because these funds are healthier than expected. Our fight from day one was for a fully funded pay rise for the whole school workforce, and this is a win on exactly those terms: support staff were most of the 8,300 jobs we warned were at risk from an unfunded award, and it's the NEU's campaign and the threat of strike action which has now ensured this money stays in the school system.'
“NEU General Secretary Daniel Kebede said today of the GMB comments: 'Not one support staff pension has been cut, this is a fall in what employers pay in, set independently by actuaries because these funds are healthier than expected. Our fight from day one was for a fully funded pay rise for the whole school workforce, and this is a win on exactly those terms: support staff were most of the 8,300 jobs we warned were at risk from an unfunded award, and it's the NEU's campaign and the threat of strike action which has now ensured this money stays in the school system.'”
Pension scheme details
The Local Government Pension Scheme is a defined benefits scheme and relies on contributions from both employers and employees.
“The Local Government Pension Scheme is a defined benefits scheme and relies on contributions from both employers and employees”
Department for Education statement
A Department for Education spokesman said: 'Supporting the whole school workforce remains a priority for this Government, and the recent pay awards and funding will benefit teachers, teaching assistants and support staff alike. The recent local government pension scheme valuation reduces what schools have to pay into the scheme as employers, but it does not reduce the pension benefits support staff receive. This has the overall effect of supporting the whole school budget.'
“A Department for Education spokesman said: 'Supporting the whole school workforce remains a priority for this Government, and the recent pay awards and funding will benefit teachers, teaching assistants and support staff alike. The recent local government pension scheme valuation reduces what schools have to pay into the scheme as employers, but it does not reduce the pension benefits support staff receive. This has the overall effect of supporting the whole school budget.'”
The short version
Labour's decision to use school support staff pension savings for teacher pay rises faces backlash from GMB union over alleged diversion of funds.
