LEYTON: School strike action to go ahead despite pay agreement (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

Strike action will go ahead at a Leyton school despite an agreement being reached on pay and conditions

12:53pm Monday 9th November 2009 in Your Local Areas By Claire Hack

STRIKE action is still to go ahead at Norlington School for Boys despite an agreement being reached on pay and conditions, it has been confirmed.

The school is set to become part of a trust with George Mitchell All-Through School – a decision which has been met with fierce opposition by teachers, parents and campaigners.

Under the plans, the school would no longer be under local authority control and staff would be employed by the Institute of Education.

Fears were raised over the change of employer and also over how beneficial a school trust would be for pupils.

Following a meeting with the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) a spokeswoman for the school said: “It was agreed at the seven-hour meeting that national pay and conditions of service for employees would be maintained under the Trust.”

She added that most members of staff have voted in favour of trust status following a secret ballot held last week.

A further meeting with ACAS could be held to resolve remaining issues.

But Waltham Forest NUT secretary Rinaldo Frezzato said he disputed the claim most staff were in favour of the trust as all union members have been opposed to the scheme.

He said: “There are about 45 teachers at the school and 27 are union members. That's over half.

“They have made their position clear in a democratic secret ballot.”

He added that there had been no movement in terms of the change of employer following the meeting with ACAS and that staff will still walk out on November 10, 11 and 12.

Mr Frezzato said: “This action follows on from two days’ strike action undertaken by members at the end of the summer term last July.

“The Union is opposed to the the Government's policy of converting community schools into privately run academies and trusts.

“The Union’s position is that democratically elected and accountable local authorities should control state schools and that teachers should be the employees of the local council.”

The plans also include proposals to build a new school to house Norlington on part of Leyton Sports Ground.

Local residents have fiercely contested the plans as they say they would have a detrimental impact on the surrounding area.

Cabinet member for children and young people Cllr Liaquat Ali said: "Cllr Liaquat Ali, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “I am extremely concerned that the welfare and education of Norlington pupils continues to be threatened by a dispute that is completely out of their hands.

“This dispute relates to a decision taken by the school’s governing body, which they believe will best benefit the entire school and its pupils.

"As such, the council fully supports the governing body’s decision.”