Hundreds of London’s teachers have reportedly announced strike action over maternity pay with just four days' notice given by schools.
The teachers all work for the Charter Schools Education Trust, a group of nine academies based in south London, and have been called to strike by the National Education Union (NEU) over what it is calling a “two-tier maternity policy.”
Strikes will begin on Friday and continue through to next week, taking place on the July 15, 16, and 17. Parents were only told of the strikes by the schools on Monday, despite being informed of the strikes by the NEU more than two weeks ago as legally required.
The strikes comes despite the Charter Schools Education Trust having agreed to three of the four demands made by the union. The other demands being to decouple pay rises from performance, form a staff group for workload and wellbeing issues, and to recognise teachers’ union membership.
However, the Trust refused to meet the union’s demands for higher maternity pay. As it stands, the highest-paid subject teachers in central London are receiving £50,288 annually, which amounts to £23,023 in maternity pay.
This figure is 32 percent higher than the £17,588 minimum rate that the same teachers are eligible for under the nationwide Burgundy Book agreement.
The Burgundy Book scheme is incorporated into the contracts of employment of all teachers nationwide and comprises rights and entitlements on maternity leave, sick pay, resignation, deduction of salary, issues related to unions, and collective disputes.
If the union’s demands were to be met, the highest-paid subject teachers in central London could receive up to £27,886 in maternity pay; an increase from 32 percent to 58 percent.
The 58 percent rate is already being paid by the Charter Schools Education Trust at two of its schools as a higher rate had been previously agreed when the school was run by the local authority. Now, the union is asking for the 58 rates to be paid across all nine schools.
As reported by The Telegraph, Daniel Kebede, the general secretary of the NEU, said the Trust is operating a “two-tier maternity policy” whereby some teachers are receiving more maternity pay than their colleagues.
He said: “We entered into negotiations in good faith but have been faced with complete intransigence from the trust on the issue of a two-tier maternity policy.
“Our members have made it clear that they do not think it fair that some staff receive thousands more maternity pay than their colleagues, despite sharing the same employer. We at least expected the Trust to make some sort of offer for our members to consider – but so far they have not offered a single penny more.”
As a result of the strike action, more than 4,500 students aged between four to 18 will be impacted. At one school, an end-of-year art gallery trip and sports day have both been cancelled.
In a letter to parents, Alison Harbottle, the headmistress of The Charter School East Dulwich, said the strikes were “deeply regrettable”, adding: “I am extremely sorry for the disruption caused to your child’s education.
“Unfortunately, the NEU action is taking place on days that involve a range of activities in our end-of-year enrichment programme. We know this will be very disappointing for students involved in these activities.”
Chris McGovern, the chairman of the Campaign for Real Education (CRE), told The Telegraph: “This action is damaging, selfish and grossly unfair on pupils. Teachers who strike have lost their moral compass.”
Jonathan Slater, the chairman of trustees at Charter Schools and former permanent secretary at the Department for Education, and Cassie Buchanan, the Charter Schools’ chief executive, said the trust “simply can’t afford” to meet the teachers’ maternity pay demands.
They wrote in a letter to parents seen by The Telegraph: “There are different numbers of NEU members in each of our schools – so it might be that some schools have to close entirely, or for others it might be that [at] least some parts will be able to remain open.”
They added: “We are already one of only a few Academy Trusts who pay our staff more than the national agreement for maternity pay (by over 30 per cent) – and nearly doubling that commitment is something we simply can’t afford to do.
“As such, it is with real sadness that we have to accept [that] the NEU members have agreed to strike, which it is completely in their right to do.”
A spokesman for the Charter Schools said: “As a practical resolution could not be reached, we are saddened that the NEU are proceeding with strike action. While we value the contribution of our staff hugely, we are one of only a few academy Trusts who already pay our staff more than the national agreement for maternity pay – by over 30 per cent.
“However, when trying to protect jobs because of the pressure of falling rolls and increased costs, we simply don’t have the wriggle room to nearly double that commitment. What we hope we have shown, however, is that we are listening and we have always sought to engage and try and find a resolution where one has been possible.”
The NEU hinted earlier this year that strikes could be on the cards as teachers in England rejected the government’s offer of a 2.8 per cent pay rise.
