Woe for students as exam board staff say they will strike during A-level and GCSE results periods claiming they have been offered ‘miserly’ pay rise
- AQA exam board staff were already due to strike next week in ongoing disputes
- However they have now scheduled further action for later this month
- This means AQA staff will be on strike on both A-level and GCSE results day
- Unison said staff are struggling to make ends meet after a ‘meagre’ pay rise
Staff at an exam board are set to take strike action during both A-level and GCSE results periods, claiming they have been offered a ‘miserly’ pay rise.
AQA staff were already due to strike next week but have now scheduled further dates later in the month for industrial action, Unison said.
The union said the action is planned as part of a long-running dispute regarding pay and fire and rehire threats to staff.
AQA exam board staff are set to take strike action during both A-level and GCSE results periods, claiming they have been offered a ‘miserly’ pay rise
Some 180 workers, including staff in customer services who Unison said would normally take calls from schools, parents and pupils on results day, will take action from August 24 until 28.
GCSE results are set to come out on August 25.
Workers had already been set to strike from Wednesday to the following Sunday – coinciding with A-level results being published on Thursday August 18.
Exam board employees are also striking from Friday until Monday. This follows industrial action at the end of July.
The union said the action, which will see some 180 workers go on strike, is planned as part of a long-running dispute regarding pay and fire and rehire threats to staff
Unison North West regional manager Vicky Knight said: ‘Last year staff were given a meagre wage rise.
‘AQA employees are struggling to make ends meet and simply cannot afford to accept the miserly pay award on offer.
‘On top of this, AQA is threatening dismissal and re-engagement if staff don’t accept.
‘Threatening the dreadful practice of fire and rehire is no way to make progress in a dispute.
‘AQA managers must come back to the table and discuss a fair resolution.’
AQA has been contacted for comment.
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