As NEU staff at Woodfield School in Brent returned to continue their strike, it was apparent that management had been busy over the holiday period, reports Pete Webster

A chilly start to the term saw the dispute at this school that provides complex and specialist care for Send pupils escalate as management had brought in around forty-odd scab workers in an attempt to break the strike by using a loophole in the regulations.

These were provided by a number of teaching agencies on the basis that the school had decided that they were there to work on a play scheme, although these normally take place during the school holidays. In fact, they are being used to cover the work that the teaching assistants carry out: a practice that is considered illegal.

As such, the NEU has issued a legal letter to the agencies involved pointing out that it was against the law to provide play-scheme workers to carry out teaching assistant duties. This also has an impact on the pupils as the scabs do not have the same degree of professionalism and dedication of the TA’s and, as temporary workers, cannot provide the same degree of commitment to the pupils who benefit from having regular and consistent contact with individual TAs over the course of the year.

At the core of the dispute is management’s attempt to cut pay and hours for the dedicated and skilled TAs that would result in their pay being cut by around £4000 per year.

They claim there is a need to make financial savings, yet can find the money to pay the recruitment agencies who cream off a nice profit as these ‘play-scheme’ workers will be on the bare minimum.

Nonetheless, striking staff were in good spirits and are determined to continue their struggle that started last year. This week’s action is on for the rest of the week and for three days next week too. A union meeting held at the close of today’s picket saw a clear majority on a show of hands to extend the action to eight days over two weeks if management remain intransigent and NEU officials are in the process of issuing a letter giving the school the statutory two-week notice required under law.

It is critical that the strikers maintain their resolve and the picket despite the current sub-zero temperatures to show the bosses that they are not going to be pushed around.

Daily pickets are from7-30-9am. Messages of solidarity to [email protected] and/or [email protected]