Brighton school staff to strike over job and pension cuts
Staff at a Brighton school are set to go on strike over proposed job and pension cuts, the National Education Union (NEU) said.Support staff and teachers at Roedean School are due to strike over a proposal of 28 redundancies as well as pay cuts following a restructure.The NEU said the school trustees also recommended a cap on the school's contributions to Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS) at 22% and to incorporate the "fire and rehire" procedure in contracts. Roedean School has been approached for comment.
Phil Clarke, regional secretary of the NEU, said they are calling for both the "fire and rehire" idea and compulsory redundancies to be withdrawn. Mr Clarke said: "NEU members do not engage in strike action lightly, but it is clear industrial action is their only option in this situation."The current TPS contribution the school pays is 28.68%. Should the revised pension contribution cap be approved, the NEU says teachers either have to fund the difference via reduced take-home pay or move to a "proposed inferior private contribution scheme"."With the cost-of-living crisis, more support staff are finding it increasingly difficult to afford to live close to the school, and so the changes proposed by the employer are simply unacceptable," Mr Clarke added.
Roedean School was founded in 1885 and it is an independent school for girls aged 11 to 18.The strikes are due to take place on 30 April and 6, 7, 13, 14 and 15 May.
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