Parents and children will face locked gates at Mulgrave Primary School in Greenwich this week due to claims of complete inaction from the council and school management in resolving a dispute over restructuring.

According to the Unite union, there is “increasing” discontent among teaching assistants and maintenance staff over the proposed restructure, with no action or meaningful negotiation “forthcoming” from Greenwich Council or the school's management team.

Dozens of support staff at the school are set to strike from tomorrow (October 16) until Friday (October 18) over the proposed restructure, which would lead to 14 job cuts.

Unite states that staff have already taken industrial action this academic year in an effort to make their voices heard.

Teaching assistants, premises staff, early years workers, and inclusion workers at Mulgrave School, represented by Unite, GMB, and Unison, are "walking out" in response to the council’s plans.

The proposals include job losses, the removal of flexible working, the creation of additional unpaid duties, and pay cuts for remaining workers.

Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite has experienced this game-playing and inaction from Greenwich Council before, and we simply won't stand for it. The council’s attitude toward its staff is deplorable.

“Unite always prioritises the jobs, pay, and conditions of workers, and our members at Mulgrave will receive Unite’s complete support.”

The union claims that the school and local authority have "repeatedly failed to disclose" the accounts needed to justify any restructuring. 

Unite Regional Officer Mary Summers added: “Our members are the backbone of this school, and parents should direct their anger at the closure to the council and school management over their short-sighted plans to make them redundant.

“All our members want is a fair deal and to ensure children in Greenwich go to schools that are properly staffed.”

Mulgrave School and Greenwich Council have been approached for comment.