Fifteen more Birmingham schools begin equal pay strike vote

Second wave of Birmingham Equal Pay school strikes could be imminent.

GMB union has today announced that fifteen additional Birmingham City Council schools are set to vote on joining industrial action, following the Council's ongoing failure to resolve the City's equal pay crisis.

The escalation comes after support staff in thirty five schools across the city downed tools and took strike action earlier this year.

Council bosses are facing criticism for the lack of meaningful progress towards a resolution. This week a body of accountants and researchers have called for an independent inquiry into the Council's issuing of two Section 114 Notices, effectively declaring itself bankrupt.

Over 250 school workers will take part in the new ballot which would bring the total number of Birmingham schools facing strike action to fifty. Balloting will begin today [Thursday 22 August] with a result expected mid-September.

Alice Reynolds, GMB Regional Organiser, said:

“Birmingham City Council has serious questions to answer.

"Instead of addressing the underpayment of women delivering essential services for the city, the Council's actions have only deepened the crisis.

“Now we're seeing reports that cuts vital services, which they blamed on the growing equal pay liability, could have been avoided – protecting jobs and services that our communities depend upon.

“GMB won’t accept the council ducking responsibility for their catastrophic failings and pinning the blame on their hardworking staff.

"With workers at fifteen more schools now balloting for strike action, it’s time the council got serious about ending the chaos and settling up.”

The fifteen additional schools involved in the new strike ballot:

Anglesey primary school

Beeches infant school

Bellfield infant school

Bellfield junior school

Boldmere junior school

Broadmeadow infants school

Calshot primary school

Highfield nursery school

Ladypool primary school

Marsh hill primary school

Nelson junior & infant school

New hall primary school

New Oscott primary school

Woodgate primary school

Woodthorpe J & I school