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In a poll of Unison members of the AQA examination board, 71 per cent voted in favour of a strike. Unison mentioned the turnout was above the 50 per cent threshold for a strike poll.
However a spokesman mentioned no choice on strike motion has been taken but.
If a strike does takes place it dangers delaying the examination outcomes of hundreds of scholars who had been the primary to take a seat exams for 3 years because of the pandemic.
Unison North West regional organiser Lizanne Devonport mentioned: “Nobody takes a choice calmly that might trigger disruption to pupils.
“However workers have demonstrated they’re clearly sad with the way in which they’re being handled and are ready to take motion.
“The union will now talk about the outcomes with the employer and department earlier than a choice is made in regards to the subsequent steps.”
Unison and Unite unions have rejected what they are saying is a 3 per cent pay improve and a £500 cost for employees at AQA and declare the organisation is “failing its workers and pupils by holding down pay.”
AQA mentioned the common pay improve can be 5.6 per cent.
AQA mentioned threats of disruption are “nonsense” and “designed to needlessly frighten college students and academics.” A spokesman for the examination board mentioned it has plans in place to make sure industrial motion wouldn’t affect outcomes day.
He mentioned: “Our precedence is all the time to ensure college students get the outcomes they deserve on time – and we have now plans in place to ensure any industrial motion wouldn’t have an effect on that. It’s a disgrace that Unison is claiming in any other case, as that is unsuitable and solely serves to needlessly frighten college students and academics.
“We’re giving our individuals a pay rise that’s reasonably priced and better than many organisations, so it’s disappointing we haven’t been in a position to attain an settlement with the unions. It’s clear that Unison doesn’t communicate for the overwhelming majority of our workers, as solely round 5% of our workforce and effectively underneath half their very own members have voted for industrial motion.
“We’ve made distinctive concessions – so, after a prolonged dispute decision course of, we’re lastly in a position to give our individuals the pay rise they’ve been ready for since April, to assist with rising residing prices.”
AQA has round 1200 workers in complete. It’s believed that 163 individuals had been entitled to vote in Unison’s poll.
It comes as academics at Richmond upon Thames Faculty introduced they’ll stroll out on strike for 14 consecutive days in a protest that may disrupt the beginning of the brand new time period.
They are saying a “fireplace and rehire” scheme will see them lose ten days of vacation.
In the meantime at Holland Park Faculty this week academics are on strike for the eleventh time in a dispute about plans for it to hitch an academy chain.
And workers at Barnet and Southgate Faculty are presently being balloted for strike motion in a dispute over pay.
Members of the Nationwide Schooling Union have already mentioned they need “inflation-plus” pay will increase or they too will think about strike motion.
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