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  "path": "/news/london-news-strikes-support-staff-30-schools-pay-dispute",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-01T21:53:23.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "Shabana Mahmood issued warning over 'fundamental mistake' amid plan to change migrant language test",
    "Church appeals street preaching ban over claims of 'intimidating behaviour'",
    "'Embarrassing!' Britain's strictest headmistress fuming with Oxford Union over cancelled debate row",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nAround 1,000 school support staff from more than 30 schools in London went on strike today amid a dispute over London weighting payments.\n\nThe industrial action from GMB union members in Merton and Greenwich came over what they characterised as a \"longstanding underpayment\" affecting workers in both south London boroughs.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTeaching assistants, caretakers and other support workers are demanding parity with their teaching colleagues, who receive higher Inner London weighting rates despite working in the same buildings.\n\nThe strike affected schools across both areas, with Greenwich Council confirming 11 schools in its borough faced disruption from the walkout.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nHelen O'Connor, GMB senior organiser, said members felt \"undervalued\" and should be \"treated equally with teachers\" who receive compensation for higher living costs in the capital.\n\nShe said: \"Talks have taken place separately with both councils, but no offer has been made to address this historic but ongoing underpayment.\"\n\nThe pay gap stems from national agreements established when the Inner London Education Authority was abolished in 1990.\n\nIn the fallout, teachers retained their Inner London pay rates, while support staff failed to receive the same protection.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nWhile teaching salaries are safeguarded at a national level, councils retain discretion over the weighting applied to support staff wages.\n\nFor some workers, the disparity amounts to more than £1,000 annually, compared to what their teaching colleagues receive.\n\nThe union has described the situation as a \"historic underpayment\" that continues to affect members in both boroughs.\n\n### LATEST DEVELOPMENTS\n\n\n\n\n  * Shabana Mahmood issued warning over 'fundamental mistake' amid plan to change migrant language test\n  * Church appeals street preaching ban over claims of 'intimidating behaviour'\n  * 'Embarrassing!' Britain's strictest headmistress fuming with Oxford Union over cancelled debate row\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nFive additional London boroughs face the same pay discrepancy, but were not involved in the strike action.\n\nMerton Council called on the GMB to abandon the walkout, warning it would impact pupils, families and fellow school employees.\n\nHannah Doody, the council's chief executive, acknowledged the \"legitimate concerns about pay\" raised by staff members.\n\nMs Doody pointed to the establishment of a national Schools Staff Negotiating Body as a mechanism to tackle the issue.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nShe explained the union sought payment through the council's general fund, which cannot be accessed without approval from the education secretary.\n\nThe council said it was collaborating with affected schools to reduce disruption.\n\nMeanwhile, Greenwich Council stated it remains engaged in dialogue with the union, adding: \"We respect the right of unions to take industrial action.\"\n\nMs O'Connor advised concerned parents to raise the matter with school leadership, their local council, elected councillors or their member of parliament.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Support staff at more than 30 London schools took strike action amid pay dispute"
}