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13 July 2010, 06:08 | Updated: 13 July 2010, 06:21
The GMB union's warning schools in Hertfordshire to be aware of the potential threat to support staff's pay and pensions - IF they decide to become academies.
Its because they say no-one knows who will run the new institutions OR who will control workers conditions.
They have written to all the 26 head teachers in Hertfordshire whose schools have been identified as having registered interest in making their school into an academy, under the government's new school scheme as early as September this year.
The Hertfordshire schools are:
GMB is seeking assurances from all these head teachers that the existing pay conditions and Pensions of GMB members who work as teaching assistants, caretakers, cleaners, lunchtime supervisors, school secretaries, laboratory assistants and in many other support roles, will be remain unchanged.
It has sent copies of this letter to all our members who would be affected by any such change in school status.
Warren Kenny, GMB Senior Organiser in Hertfordshire has been telling Heart:
"Initially the government had withheld the names of the schools which had expressed an interest in academy status but following GMB pressure we now know which these are.
"In all the schools which may be made academies GMB has taken immediate action to ensure that GMB members who work as school support staff will not suffer jobs, pay, hours, conditions or pension cuts as a result of their head teacher moving the school to be an academy."