Dear colleague

For the pay rise due to be implemented this April, the three recognised local government unions (Unison, GMB and Unite) have now submitted an above-inflation pay claim, for a £3,000 or 10% increase, whichever is greater. The NEU fully supports this claim, which would be a significant step towards repairing the real-terms pay cuts imposed since 2010.

For their part, the employers – the Local Government Association (LGA) – has said that it will consult local employers during March before responding to the union claim. The NEU has written to the recognised unions to register our strong desire to work alongside them, in a General Election year, to ballot our members to address the funding of pay, jobs and conditions of service.

Now the recognised unions have confirmed their above-inflation pay claim, we will now consult our support staff members about their willingness to take strike action alongside the recognised unions in support of the claim.

This preliminary electronic ballot for support staff in state-funded schools across England and Wales will open on Saturday, 16 March.

Alongside pay, the NEU will also campaign to tackle other problems facing support staff, particularly around funding and jobs. You regularly tell us that support staff are expected to go over and above their contractual obligations to keep schools running. We know that job creep and grade drift and particular problems. We also know that the evermore acute crisis in SEND provision is dramatically increasing the burdens on many support staff.

All of these pressures have created a situation where, for the first time ever, we have a chronic retention crisis amongst support staff. Many of you have told us about colleagues who have left to start new jobs in retail and catering, where the pay is now better, and the working conditions and expectations are more tolerable – a reverse of the situation a decade or more ago.

So, at the same time we consult you about supporting the recognised unions’ pay claim, we will also ask you about your willingness to take strike action alongside your teacher colleagues to secure further school funding to fully fund pay awards, protect conditions of service and provide improved levels of staffing provision.

Support staff in Wales will be asked an additional question about their willingness to take strike action if the Welsh Government imposes a reform of the school year by reducing the summer holidays to four weeks.

We can’t afford to do nothing.

On Saturday, 16 March, we will send all eligible members a voting link by email or text – please vote as soon as you receive the voting link.

For action to go ahead, in a subsequent formal ballot, that must be conducted by post, a majority must vote ‘Yes’ and at least 50 per cent of all those eligible to vote must do so. For the NEU executive to authorise a formal ballot, this preliminary electronic ballot must indicate that such a ballot is likely to pass these legal thresholds.

We will use the results to demonstrate to the UK and Welsh Governments, NJC employers and the recognised unions the strength of feeling amongst support staff and our resolve not to accept further detriment to pay, conditions and staffing.

We hope that, ahead of a General Election, the UK Government has a change of heart and starts to address the funding crisis that is doing so much damage to our pupils’ education. That would also enable NJC employers to meet the recognised unions’ demand for an above-inflation pay rise in full. But, if not, we need to be prepared to do all we can to protect education and fight for what is fair.

Likewise in Wales, if the Welsh Government presses on with proposals to reform the school year by cutting the summer break to four weeks.

Together, we need to take a stand.

Since the last election, your faith and dedication – including standing shoulder to shoulder with your teacher colleagues on many picket lines last year – helped us to win more funding for schools.

But, in 2024, we need you to stand firm again. Alongside Unison, GMB and Unite, we can win a fair pay rise for support staff. Alongside teacher colleagues, we can win further funding to protect support staff conditions and improve the levels of staffing provision.

If you have any further questions about the support staff ballot please read the FAQs on this page. You can also download a copy of a letter that we are posting to all eligible support staff members ahead of preliminary ballot going live on Saturday 16 March.