School heads back staff in dispute

Local government union Unison claimed that, locally, up to 80% of members had stayed away from work.

National industrial action over reduced pensions benefits also affected local schools. The Government's role in the dispute was condemned this week by the Bexhill Schools Consortium.

Sidley Community Primary School was closed for the day because of lack of cover. Little Common School pupils were sent home early because there was no lunch-time play supervision.

Rother chief executive Derek Stevens said on Wednesday: "Some 37% of staff at Rother District Council took part in the day of action, designed to draw attention to the proposals by the Government to make amendments to the Local Government Pension Scheme.

"A number of staff took part in the peaceful picketing of council offices, and conducted themselves absolutely in accordance with the relevant legislation.

"During the day, the council was able to ensure that there was no interruption to service delivery and no members of the public suffered or were in any way inconvenienced as a consequence of the industrial action."

Little Common School head David Pratt, on behalf of the Bexhill Schools Consortium, said: "Bexhill headteachers cannot understand the moral justification for removing pension entitlements from a significant and highly valued section of their school and college staff, who give dedicated service to their local communities.

"These people deserve the pensions they have already paid for!"