Support staff at a specialist centre in Dorset providing education and care for disabled children and young people took two days of strike action on Wednesday 31 January and Thursday 1 February.
Staff at the Victoria Education Centre, run by charity Livability, bounced on the picket line as they ramped up their campaign for fair pay.
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“What do we want?”
“Fair pay!”
“When do we want it?”
“NOW!”#LivabilityStrike pic.twitter.com/zSBAqQGRz5
— UNISON South West (@UNISONSW) January 31, 2024
The latest strike follows 18 months of pay talks that have failed to deliver a wage rise in line with what school support staff received elsewhere.
Last year, the centre’s staff – including teaching assistants, health care assistants and occupational therapists – voted overwhelmingly for action, with 97% saying they were prepared to strike.
On Wednesday 31 January, UNISON members were joined by UNISON South West regional secretary Kerry Baigent.
Unless Livability seek to resolve the dispute, UNISON members will be out again for three days from 20 – 22 February and a further three days in March from 5 – 7.
