Support staff funding campaign

Results are in for our preliminary ballot for an above-inflation pay rise and further funding to improve staffing.

Ballot results

		England			Wales
	Turnout %	Yes %	No %	Turnout %	Yes %	No %
Q1	59.5	97.1	2.9	57.8	96.3	3.7
Q2	59	85.9	14.1	57.5	85.3	14.7
Q3	58.5	88.9	11.1	57.1	87	13
Q4	-	-	-	57.1	62.2	37.8

Ballot questions:

Q1 Do you support the NJC unions' 2024-25 above-inflation pay demand?

Q2 Would you vote 'yes' to strike action alongside NJC unions in support of their 2024-25 pay demand?

Q3 Would you vote “Yes” to strike action alongside NEU teacher colleagues for further school funding, that fully funds pay awards, fully protects support staff terms, conditions and job security and provides improved levels of staffing provision in schools, colleges and education services?

Q4 (WALES ONLY) Would you vote “Yes” to strike action if the Welsh Government imposes a reform of the school year by reducing the summer break to four weeks?

Next steps

On 18 May the national executive will agree strategy on pay and funding, including next steps for support staff..

The Wales Committee is considering next steps on pay, funding and school year matters ahead of that executive. And likewise our rep networks in sixth form colleges.

We will soon update you on winning in your workplaces on both pay and workload and, in the run up to a General Election, how to involve parents and the wider public in our School Cuts campaign.

Support staff FAQs

Questions and answers about the support staff pay and funding campaign.

Pay and funding campaign

The NEU is actively campaigning for a fully funded, above-inflation pay rise for all educators, highlighting the pay disparity in further education.

2023 ballots

Support staff pay is determined by the National Joint Council (NJC) and negotiated by its recognised unions, Unison, GMB and Unite. Read full details of the 2023 NJC offer.

In 2023 85 per cent of NEU support staff members voted to ACCEPT the Government funding offer, on a turnout of 45 per cent.

The prospect of combined strike action involving teachers and support staff next term was a critical factor in forcing ministers’ hands to pledge £900 million of additional cash to ensure teacher and support staff pay awards were better funded, thereby protecting jobs. For the bulk of support staff, the flat-rate offer represented an increase of between 6 and 8 per cent, slightly better than the Government’s improved offer to teachers.

What extra funding was offered?

£900 million extra funding, year-on-year, for schools to pay for the extra 3 per cent for teachers’ pay.
Guarantees that the extra money will not come from any frontline services, including Special Educational Needs (SEND) funding, schools’ capital, maintained nursery or 16-19 funding provision.