Strike ballot opens at Tower Hamlets school over planned job cuts

More than 20 per cent of teaching assistants at St Luke’s Church of England Primary School face redundancy, prompting GMB Union to ballot members.

GMB Union has today (Friday 14 February) opened a ballot for members at St Luke’s Church of England Primary School after the school put forward plans to cut teaching assistant roles.

A recent indicative ballot saw over 90 per cent of GMB members at the school vote for strike action.

Under the proposals, 6 of the 27 teaching assistants employed by the school would be made redundant. A further 2 agency teaching assistants will not have their contracts renewed.

The school, located on the Isle of Dogs, has a significant number of pupils with special educational needs.

The proposed redundancies raise questions about how well those pupils will be supported with fewer staff in the classroom.  

The ballot will close on Tuesday 4 March.

Jasmin Deans, GMB Regional Organiser, said:

“Our members are dedicated to their jobs and the children they support.

“They deserve better than to face the anxiety and uncertainty of wondering if they will lose the job they love.

“These proposed job cuts will leave remaining staff with even heavier workloads and have a direct impact of the quality of children’s education.”