Camden teaching assistants are determined to win re-grading

Camden Unison and Camden NEU strikers rallying together after their picket lines

Teaching assistants (TAs) at Richard Cobden primary school in Camden, north London, remain determined to win their demands.

The Unison union members began four days of strikes over pay on Tuesday, their fourth round of strikes since autumn.

At the picket line on Tuesday cars driving past honked their horns in support. And parents and children arriving at the school were queuing up to take stickers printed with messages of solidarity.

A Unison rep told Socialist Worker, “We met with management for the first time yesterday. It’s just disappointing that it was the day before the strike, that it took that long to get to the point where we’ve even had any communication.

“How meaningful it was will prove to be seen.”

Richard Cobden School teaches many children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send).

The rep emphasised that while the strike was about pay, it also was about demanding better provision in Send.

“I feel very strongly about this community, I live here and I work here,” she said.

“And unless we start investing in schools, and Send specifically, I think the future is quite bleak. I’m sure that is not exclusive to Camden.

“I think we’re running all of our services at a dangerous level at the minute. I worry for 20 years time.”

A restructure at the school means a number of support worker posts have been deleted, leaving workers with more duties. They are demanding to be re-graded to reflect this.

A striker on the picket line told Socialist Worker that since striking, “people are really cracking down on just doing exactly what the job description says.”

“We’re making sure that we’re not doing extra. Usually, we would do something without even being asked,” she said. “But at the same time, we’ve got to have cash to live.” 

Liz, branch secretary for Camden Unison, told Socialist Worker that the workers were optimistic they would win.

“We’re staying very solid. Members are really determined that they’re in this to win it,” she said.

“We know it’s having an impact. And members are clear that they want to reballot if we don’t get a win in the next couple of weeks so they can continue taking action.”

“We are determined that we’re going to win the regrading so they get paid the money, the correct money, for the job that they do.

“Because it doesn’t matter how much everybody appreciates them. That doesn’t pay bills.”

The general secretary of Unison, Andrea Egan, had also visited the picket line earlier that day to show solidarity with the strikers.

A joint rally took place after the picket outside of Camden Town Hall. Unison members at Richard Cobden primary school linked up with Great Ormond Street and UCL Hospital School NEU union members who are on strike over victimisation of trade unionists and unacceptable management practices.

Daniel Kebede, NEU general secretary, told the rally, “I want more of this. More of unions together, standing up for our members and our children. Because education has been under attack for too long.”

“They’re cutting teaching assistant’s jobs, they are cutting Send provision. So we are going to have to do much more of this,” he said. “Standing together in the NEU and in Unison to support our support staff, teachers, and those who work in Send, because our children deserve it,” he said.

“So, let’s keep on pushing. Let this be the start of more to come, and let’s build a society in which our children can flourish.” 

Join the picket lines, 3-6 February, from 7.30am, Richard Cobden Primary School, 29 Camden St, NW1 OLL