Hillingdon school support staff threaten strike action over pupil violence

GMB Union could ballot support staff at Hillside Junior School for strike action over the school’s failure to keep staff and pupils safe by refusing to exclude a violent pupil.

Staff report being subjected to repeated violent attacks, which have included having their hair pulled out and being hit, bitten, or spat at.

The staff raised a grievance and informed the headteacher they wanted to be kept safe, which may involve the pupil being excluded from the school.

GMB members have said that they cannot be expected to tolerate being physically assaulted at work and not only fear for their safety, but the safety of other children.

Nobody should be harmed at work, and headteachers have a legal responsibility to keep staff and pupils safe.

A GMB member working at the school said:

“I have worked with challenging children for many years, but in this case, there is a very real concern for the safety of other children and the safety of the staff.

“We do not come to work to get hit, bitten, or spat at.”

Anna Lee, GMB Regional Organiser said;

“School support staff are committed to supporting children with challenging behaviours so they can receive an education, but this cannot be at the expense of their personal safety.

“It is not reasonable for a headteacher to expect staff to accept that injuries are part of their job and tolerate being regularly harmed.

“We are asking the headteacher to take the necessary steps to ensure they are fulfilling their legal responsibility to keep staff safe and this may require the pupil being excluded from the school so other children and staff are no longer at risk.

“GMB takes any health & safety breach seriously, regardless of where it happens, and if members in a school do not feel safe at work and are being harmed, we will have to consider industrial action.”