Susan Kennedy

Local Government Conference supported a range of measures to defend school support staff, who have faced a range of attacks on their jobs, pay, terms and conditions and job security across the four nations.

UNISON will develop the Justice for School Staff Campaign which will highlight the essential role that these staff play in our children’s education and will produce guidance for negotiating and bargaining for this workforce.

Aberdeenshire’s amendment, included in a wide ranging composite, gave a Scottish perspective to the debate. Susan Kennedy, herself a Pupil Support Assistant, told Conference that in Aberdeenshire we have lost 300 full-time equivalent school support posts, with further cuts on the horizon.

“In real terms, this equates to 20% of our low paid, term-time women losing their jobs, causing a huge impact on the ever increasing needs of pupils with additional support needs, on our local economies, and for those left behind.

“Women, including myself, live in fear of job security, and with average earnings of £10k per year, struggle to make ends meet,” Susan said, adding that such attacks are not exclusive to pupil support staff - colleagues in other school support roles are also facing further job cuts, janitors, administrators, technicians and librarians.

Susan pointed out that despite legislation in Scotland which promises to protect the rights of children to access an education which enables them to achieve their potential, Local Authorities ignore this and see school support staff as an easy target for cuts.

“Conference, education is the foundation stone for our children and that foundation is supported by our school support staff.”