School Support Staff Negotiating Body

The abolition of the SSSNB in 2010 was a regrettable decision, leaving school support staff without the national voice and negotiating power they deserve. My Liberal Democrat parliamentary colleagues and I are committed to championing fairness and equality in the workplace. I support the reinstatement of the SSSNB.

It is unacceptable that school support staff have been left without a statutory national pay body, leading to disparities in pay, terms, and conditions across schools and regions. The reinstatement of the SSSNB would provide a consistent and fair framework for negotiations, ensuring that all support staff—whether in local authority-maintained schools or academies—are treated with the respect and recognition they deserve.

However, while I welcome many of the measures proposed in the Bill, I must express concern about the lack of clarity in certain areas and the missed opportunities to address critical issues. The reliance on future consultations and secondary legislation creates uncertainty for workers. We will continue to press the Government to provide clarity and address the gaps in the Bill, such as provisions for carer’s leave.