The NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union, along with other
trade unions representing supply staff working in education, have
written to the Department for Education to press for
clarification on the operation of the Coronavirus Job Retention
Scheme (CJRS) during the current national lockdown and the
closure of schools to some pupils.
Currently, significant numbers of supply staff are unable to
work, have had work cancelled, or have drastically reduced
employment opportunities. This is leaving hard working and
dedicated supply staff facing increased financial uncertainty and
hardship.
The vast majority of education supply staff are employed by
agencies and members report that very few are prepared to place
them on furlough, often citing the costs, notably National
Insurance and pension payments, borne by the employer under the
current version of the CJRS.
The joint letter calls upon the Government/DfE to:
- send a direction and provide adequate funding to ensure that
supply staff on a live assignment continue to be paid from the
budget of the school, with those who had their assignments
terminated early reinstated on the original terms;
- assess whether the current employer contributions within the
CJRS, covering National Insurance and pension contributions, are
acting as a disincentive for agencies to furlough workers;
- ensure that agencies do the right thing and place education
workers without current employment on furlough to allow them to
weather these particularly difficult times and ensure they are
available to work in what will undoubtedly be challenging months
ahead.
The joint letter has been signed by the NASUWT, AEP, GMB, NAHT,
NEU, Prospect and UNISON.
Dr Patrick Roach, NASUWT General
Secretary, said:
“The fact that a range of trade union organisations have come
together on this issue shows the critical importance of ensuring
that supply staff unable to access work are treated fairly and
equitably and receive the fullest amount of financial support
available from the Government at this critical time, either
through stronger direction from the DfE and/or through the
auspices of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
“It cannot be right that hard working and dedicated supply staff,
who have been fundamental to ensuring that schools control to
function during the ongoing pandemic, are being prohibited and
excluded from financial assistance at such a critical time. These
are the very people that schools will rely on going forwards, so
they must be treated with dignity and respect.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
The joint letter to Schools Minister is attached.
