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GOVERNMENT PLANS FOR SCHOOLS PUT TO THE TEST PRESS NOTICE The GMB, Britain’s General Union, will begin balloting its members working in Birmingham’s schools on controversial plans to re-model schools staff following lengthy negotiations with the City Council. School Support Staff will vote on whether or not they are willing to accept a deal which will result in staff taking on additional roles and responsibilities within the classroom in return for new terms and conditions of employment. The proposals, which have attracted a lot of criticism from national negotiators and local School Support Staff, seem to be attempting to introduce re-modelling on the cheap and will be the first real test of the Government’s plans to re-shape schools. The results may well determine the plans of Education Authorities across the country. Rob Kelsall, GMB Schools Organiser said: “Our members in schools will be voting not only on their conditions of service but also on the shape of our schools for generations to come. We have been in negotiations with the City Council for over eighteen months now and despite some progress on a new career structure, it seems that Council bosses are unwilling to match levels of pay to the new responsibilities that staff will be taking on. It also seems that the Council are not prepared to pay extra for the present roles that many of our members are currently undertaking on the back of goodwill. The proposals fall well short of our members’ expectations and could undermine all of the excellent progress being made in our schools by Support Staff in raising pupils’ standards of achievement.” ENDS
Notes to Editors: • The GMB currently has over 77,000 members working in education nationwide. • The ballot will commence on Monday 26th January 2004 and consultation meetings are being held in schools across Birmingham next week.
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