70 Birmingham schools could face strike action within weeks as equal pay crisis widens

A walkout among Birmingham school staff could double in size to take in 70 schools, it emerged this morning. Some workers at another 35 Birmingham City Council-run schools are to be balloted on strike action in response to the council's equal pay crisis and redundancies.

Employees at an initial 35 schools have already staged a walkout timed to coincide with SATs due to have been taken by pupils last week. The ballot raises the prospect of strike action at more than half the authority's schools before the end of the academic year in July.

Teaching assistants, catering staff and grounds maintenance workers who are members of the GMB union will take part in the ballot. The union has accused the council of delays and broken promises on settling claims for equal pay.

READ MORE: Full list of Birmingham schools hit by strikes today as pupils sit SATs

GMB organiser Alice Reynolds said: "This is a decisive escalation from GMB members in Birmingham. Now 70 Birmingham schools, over half of the city’s schools, face a summer of strike uncertainty thanks to the delays and broken promises of Birmingham City Council.

"It’s time for urgent action from council bosses to set out a clear timetable for settling these claims and ending the equal pay crisis.”

Schools announced as taking part in second wave of strike votes

• Allens Croft Primary School

• Anderton Park Primary School

• Anglesey Primary School

• Beaufort School

• Beeches Infant School

• Bellfield Infant School (NC)

• Bellfield Junior School

• Blakesley Hall Primary School

• Boldmere Junior School

• Bordesley Green Girls' School & Sixth Form

• Broadmeadow Infant School

• Broadmeadow Junior School

• Calshot Primary School

• Colebourne Primary School

• Highfield Nursery School

• Holte School

• Ladypool Primary School

• Marsh Hill Primary School

• Nelson Junior and Infant School

• New Hall Primary

• New Oscott Primary School

• Regents Park Community Primary School

• Sladefield Infants

• Somerville Primary (NC) School

• Stechford Primary School

• Victoria School

• Ward End Primary School

• Water Mill Primary School

• Wattville Primary School

• Welford Primary School

• Weoley Castle Nursery School

• William Murdoch Primary School

• Woodgate Primary School

• Woodthorpe Junior and Infant School

• World's End Infant and Nursery School

Birmingham schools that took part in strike action last week

• Colmore Junior School

• Minworth J & I School

• Colmore Infant & Nursery School

• Chad Vale Primary School

• Bordesley Green East Nursery School

• Hodge hill Girls School

• Newtown Nursery School

• Nelson Mandela School

• Jakeman Nursery School

• Arden Primary School

• St. Benedict's Infants

• Yardley Primary School

• Marsh Hill Nursery

• Forestdale Primary School

• Kings Heath Primary School

• Lozells Junior and Infant School

• James Watt Primary

• Clifton Primary School

• Worlds End Junior School

• Cherry Orchard Primary School

• Bordesley Green Primary School

• Benson Community School

• Wheelers Lane Primary

• Stanville Primary School

• Beeches Junior School

• St. James C E Primary School Handsworth

• Redhill Primary School

• Elms Farm Primary School

• Harborne Primary School

• Gunter Primary School

• George Dixon Primary School

• Boldmere Infants & Nursery School

• Yorkmead Junior & Infants School

• Chilcote Primary School

• Yardley Wood Community Primary School

What has the council said?

Birmingham City Council spokesperson said: "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 is keen to work together with GMB to explore solutions, as it remains committed to resolving historic equal pay issues and settling all legitimate claims from our employees.”