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Essex Special Needs Staff Vote to Strike for Pay

12/24/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Unison reports that staff at three Essex special needs schools voted unanimously to strike.
Teaching assistants and support staff seek a Special Educational Needs allowance of £5,500 annually.
Unison claims Lift Schools multi-academy trust ignored staff requests for months.
Lift Schools multi-academy trust disputes this, stating it proposed a pay increase and is discussing with staff.
No strike dates are set, with further talks planned for January.

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Story summary

Unison reports that staff at three Essex special needs schools voted unanimously to strike.
Teaching assistants and support staff seek a Special Educational Needs allowance of £5,500 annually.
Unison claims Lift Schools multi-academy trust ignored staff requests for months.
Lift Schools multi-academy trust disputes this, stating it proposed a pay increase and is discussing with staff.
No strike dates are set, with further talks planned for January.