Teachers in Birmingham set to strike over unequal pay claims
Members of the GMB Union have backed strike action.
Last updated 23rd Apr 2024
Workers at Birmingham City Council have voted in favour of supporting strike action.
The outcome comes as council bosses have been criticised for delaying the settlement of equal pay claims made by women workers at the council.
GMB members at 35 city schools have voted to back the action, with over 96 per cent supporting industrial action.
Strike dates will be announced in the coming weeks.
Alice Reynolds, GMB Organiser, said: “Almost a year since council bosses admitted an equal pay bill as high as £760 million, not one single women worker has received the money they're owed.
"Birmingham City Council owes GMB members money after years of stolen wages, the equal pay crisis only ends when our members' claims are settled.
“This is no longer about sending messages; workers are now taking matters into their own hands.
“Birmingham’s schools cannot run without our members and this strike action will have a huge impact.
"Council bosses are fast running out of time to fix this."
The schools affected include:
- Colmore Junior School
- Minworth Junior and Infants School
- Colmore Infant and Nursery School
- Chad Vale Primary School
- Bordesley Green East Nursery School
- Hodge Hills Girls School
- Newtown Nursery School
- Nelson Mandela School
- Jakeman Nursery School
- Arden Primary School
- St. Benedicts Infants
- Yardley Primary School
- Marsh Hill Nursery
- Forestdale Primary School
- Kings Heath Primary School
- Lozells Junior and Infant School
- James Watt Primary School
- Clifton Primary School
- Worlds End Junior School
- Cherry Orchard Primary School
- Bordesley Green Primary School
- Benson Community School
- Wheelers Lane Primary School
- Stanville Primary School
- Beeches Junior School
- St. James C of E Primary School
- Redhill Primary School
- Gunter Primary School
- George Dixon Primary School
- Boldmere Infants and Nursery School
- Yorkmead Junior and Infants School
- Chilcote Primary School
- Yardley Wood Community Primary School
Birmingham City Council told us: “The council has been engaging with GMB on matters of equal pay since November 2021, and following the further agreement made with the Trades Unions in October 2023, has begun work on a new approach to job evaluation to settle Birmingham’s equal pay issues once and for all.
"The council would encourage GMB to explore solutions working together, as it remains committed to resolving historic equal pay issues, and settling all legitimate claims from our employees.”