Fears for jobs in schools shake-up

UP TO 100 teaching staff could be left without jobs when four middle schools close in Kirklees, teaching unions have claimed.

Staff from the schools earmarked for closure – Birkenshaw, Gomersal, West End and Whitechapel – met earlier this week to discuss possible industrial action in the fight for jobs.

A union spokesman said that Kirklees Council officials had previously promised staff that all jobs would be safe but it appeared this might not now be the case.

A spokesman for the four unions involved said: “It has become increasingly clear that these assurances will not be met and there are only a handful of jobs available for almost 100 staff, making redundancies almost inevitable.”

Unions claim that the middle school staff are facing a similar situation to those at Birkdale High School, which is also due to close.

“Birkdale is earmarked for closure next year, but so far not a single job has been identified for these staff to go to,” said the spokesman.

He added: “These are staff who have remained loyal to their schools and the pupils by staying at the schools earmarked for closure, to ensure high quality education is maintained and the transition to the new structure is not disruptive to pupils.”

He said staff felt “angry and betrayed”.

Because the reorganisation of education in North Kirklees depended on money from the Government Building Schools for the Future programme – now cancelled – unions say that pressing ahead with the closures will leave staff “high and dry” with no jobs to go to.

The four main unions involved, ATL, NASUWT, NUT, and Unison, met jointly with members this week and are considering how to respond.

The spokesman said that by pressing ahead with the closure programme, the council was “taking the schools system into utter chaos”.

He added: “Our members are both shocked and angry. They have been reassured over the last three years that they shouldn’t worry and that there would, if anything, be more jobs available than they would all need.

“Instead, we have been told just last week that the new primary schools will have literally only a handful of vacancies and there is nothing else in the pipeline.

“This is a betrayal of long suffering hard working staff of amazing proportions.”

Union members are now planning to lobby senior councillors.

The spokesman added: “The council cannot afford to underestimate the mood of anger we all feel. If the council decides to continue down this road, then we will have no option but to consider industrial action. We hope we will not be have to go down this road, but our hands are being forced.

“The ongoing scandal around this farce just becomes even worse as each day passes. Inevitably we will link together these different struggles into one campaign and we will be pressing all our members to take joint action to protect, defend and save all jobs in North Kirklees.”

A spokesman for Kirklees Council said: “The council is very aware that this is an uncertain time for school staff and we appreciate their continuing hard work and commitment.

“A framework is in place with the vast majority of schools to ensure staff who are affected by the changes can be considered for posts within Kirklees.

“We are working closely with all the schools involved to help them plan for a period of change and we are also in regular discussion with unions.

“This ensures that all parties are kept fully aware of developments and the council remains highly committed to providing the best possible educational chances for children and young people throughout the Kirklees area.”

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