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Bristol Education Chair Proposes Resolution Amid Ongoing Strikes
Cllr Christine Townsend, chair of Bristol City Council’s education and children’s services committee, has suggested that the Society of Merchant Venturers and the University of Bristol should contribute financially to resolve ongoing disputes over back-pay that have led to strikes at seven local schools. The proposal was tabled for discussion at City Hall today.
Staff represented by the National Education Union (NEU) at these schools, which include Merchants Academy in Withywood, Venturers Academy, and several primary schools, have been striking over claims that staff historically did not receive annual pay increases on time. The strikes resumed this week, following earlier walkouts at the end of the summer term, with action planned for multiple days over the next two weeks.
The schools involved in the disputes are Merchants Academy, Venturers Academy, Fairlawn Primary, Bannerman Road Community, Barton Hill, the Kingfisher School, and Montpelier High. The conflict stems from the period when these schools were governed by the Venturers Trust, which operated under different pay cycles compared to their new management by E-ACT, leading to discrepancies in salary adjustments.
Both the Society of Merchant Venturers and the University of Bristol have stated that they no longer have any affiliation with the management of these schools, having concluded their involvement two years ago. The Society indicated that no pay concerns were raised during the transition to E-ACT, while the University clarified that it was never financially responsible for running the Trust or the associated schools.
Cllr Townsend highlighted the challenge of historical financial responsibilities, stating that the regions’ education sector had hoped for resolution following the transition to new management. She expressed concern over the ongoing issues, noting that support staff at former Venturers Trust schools have reportedly lost out on substantial pay increases due to the differing pay cycles.
An E-ACT spokesperson affirmed their commitment to support staff but maintained that they would not provide additional back-pay, arguing that previous pay arrangements met legal and contractual obligations.
The motion proposed by Cllr Townsend calls for final financial intervention from the Merchant Venturers and the University of Bristol, as the predicament continues to affect staff income significantly. She described the owed wages as a matter of justice, stating that it is incumbent on these institutions to address the situation stemming from their former governance of the schools.
Amid this ongoing situation, both the Society of Merchant Venturers and the University of Bristol have expressed concern over the industrial action and disruption it causes to students’ education, reiterating that they no longer oversee the mentioned institutions.
