School support staff in Derby are to take all out strike action for five days starting next Monday (27 February) as the latest talks with the city council fail to reach an agreement, says UNISON.
Next week is on top of the two days of action taking place this week (today and tomorrow), during which school support staff are holding a 24-hour vigil outside the city council’s offices.
Following on from a march earlier today, striking staff took up position in Corporation Street at noon. They plan to stay there until the same time tomorrow to draw attention to the plight of colleagues who have been driven into debt and are now defaulting on their mortgage payments because of council cuts to their pay.
UNISON regional secretary Helen Black said: “During negotiations with the council UNISON has clearly set out how the dispute could be brought to an end, allowing school staff to return to the jobs they love, without fear of losing their homes.
“The dispute has been dragging on for nine months. It’s surely time the council leadership got involved to find a way to end the disruption affecting parents and pupils, and the real financial hardship being experienced by school staff.
“Between now and next week’s strikes the council should use the time to put forward a sensible offer to end the dispute once and for all and let pupils, parents and school staff get their lives back to normal.”
Notes to editors:
– UNISON has given notice of five days of all out industrial action from Monday 27 February to Friday 3 March.
Media contacts:
Adrian Morgan T: 0115 847 5462 M: 07939 478418 E: a.morgan@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen T: 0207 121 5463 M: 07778 158175 E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk
Alan Weaver T: 0207 121 5555 M: 07939 143310 E: a.weaver@unison.co.uk
