Member

I find Amendment 162 particularly problematic. By removing the words “of employment”, it dangerously broadens the scope of the negotiating body to include any person providing school support services, regardless of whether they have a formal employment contract. That risks pulling in a wide range of individuals who perform vastly different functions and hold very different responsibilities, from contractors and agency workers to temporary staff. Many will have no direct or ongoing relationship with the school as an employer. Including such a disparate group under one negotiating umbrella is therefore unworkable and unjustified. It ignores the fundamental differences in roles, terms and working arrangements that exist across these categories. These workers have different legal statuses, different contractual frameworks and different relationships with schools, and to force all of those under the same pay and conditions regime would inevitably create chaos, confusion and potential unfairness. I look forward to hearing the Minister’s comments.