BREAKING: School workers in South London have achieved a significant victory in their fight for enhanced maternity pay after a recent strike. Hundreds of members from the National Education Union (NEU) at nine schools within the Charter Schools Educational Trust staged a walkout last week, marking the largest strike across a multi-academy trust in London.
The workers rallied for improved maternity pay, union recognition, and the abolition of performance-related pay—successfully winning on all fronts. Jess Edwards, NEU Secretary for Lambeth, confirmed, “Strikers have won an enhancement of a couple thousand pounds more.” This development comes as schools within academy trusts often impose maternity pay policies that can be less favorable than those set by local authorities.
The strike highlighted a crucial issue: the emergence of a two-tier maternity policy that disadvantaged new starters. The recent agreement has significantly narrowed this gap, boosting morale among union members. Edwards noted that this victory has empowered workers, stating, “They feel a sense that they have done something and won.”
The implications of this victory extend beyond individual schools. Edwards emphasized that it demonstrates the strength of the union in negotiating essential benefits, saying, “It has shown that the union is a force you have to deal with, and management can’t just make changes.”
This strike follows a similar successful campaign in April 2023, where school workers at Dunraven Education Trust also secured improved maternity pay and recognition. “Maternity was the way into these two disputes and through that we sorted out pay and recognition,” Edwards explained.
The urgency for these improvements is underscored by a national recruitment and retention crisis in the education sector, particularly impacting women in their 30s. Edwards pointed out that working in schools often clashes with family life, affecting many educators’ decisions to remain in the profession.
“Maternity pay means you don’t have to rush back to work because you can’t afford to live,” she stated, adding that the ability to spend additional time with children is invaluable. “It gives a sense that you are valued.”
As this story develops, attention will be on how these victories influence future negotiations for school workers and potentially spark further actions across the sector. The NEU is poised to advocate for equality and enhancements that benefit all workers in the education system, signaling a growing movement for change within the industry.
This victory not only enhances the livelihoods of educators but also sets a precedent for future labor actions aimed at improving conditions across the board. The momentum generated by these strikes could be pivotal as workers continue to address systemic issues affecting their rights and benefits.