'Support staff deserve better'

Unite delegate Vicky Thompson weighed in on a debate on school support staff on the first day of TUC Congress 2025 on Sunday (September 7).

She hailed the reinstatement of the School Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSNB), calling it a major victory ?for every worker in the education system and for the children who rely on them?.

Vicky said that such a negotiating body is the only way support staff such as teaching assistants, catering staff and technicians are properly acknowledged for the work they do.

But she went on to highlight that the SSNB is not due to make its first recommendation until 2027.

?Workers cannot wait ? the staffing crisis continues,? she said.

Drawing form her experience as a senior science technician in a secondary school in Scotland, she said that ?the disparity of pay in England compared to Scotland can be as much as ?10,000 of a difference for roles like my own?.

?Employers use the broken patchwork of academies to drive down pay and conditions,? Vicky added, noting that it is ?only right that SSSNB coverage is extended to the 52,000 workers who are employed by agencies and other third parties within our school system?.

?Without this, these workers will find themselves at an even greater risk of lower pay and insecurity,? she went on to say. ?Thousands of school transport and catering staff are being denied basic employment rights and job security while being forced to work in precarious arrangements.?

Vicky argued that we should use this moment to also work to improve working conditions for support staff, a majority of whom are women.

?For far too long our support workers, predominantly women, have been on the receiving end of physical and verbal attacks from pupils,? she said.

She highlighted the ?systemic failings? of employers, leaving staff with little support in ?dealing with de-escalation of incidents and in following up appropriately on reporting of violence in whatever form?.

Vicky called for greater support for staff, and for the recognition that violence ?in any form? was unacceptable. This, she said, would ?reduce some of the staff retention issues we have?.

Concluding to applause, Vicky said, ?School support staff deserve better?.

The motion was carried.

By Hajera Blagg

Photo by Mark Thomas