NINE dinner ladies are still on an indefinite strike over redundancy plans at a cash strapped primary school in Grimethorpe.
Ladywood Primary School is planning to reduce the number of dinner ladies and replace them with teaching assistants to try to save money.
Angie Waller, of Barnsley Socialist Party reported that the song from the picket line was: "No ifs, no buts, no dinner lady cuts.”
She said: “The mood is very strong and the women are standing firm, along with the solidarity from their colleagues and the parents at the school. Parents are joining the dinner ladies on the picket line every day.”
A Save Our Ladywood Primary School Dinner Ladies petition has also been circulating and has more than 900 signatures.
The petition set up by the parents says that the dinner ladies are the ‘heart of school life and have been supporting the children for generations’.
The school released a statement this week, from Barnsley Alliance, the partnership of all schools in Barnsley defending the decisions
It stated: “All schools face a difficult time at the moment as a result of restricted financial circumstances. This requires careful financial planning to ensure that the needs of our pupils can be met, whilst maintaining the school as an environment where children feel safe and can thrive.
“Ofsted found Ladywood to be a ‘good’ school during its last inspection in January this year. Ofsted commented that the leadership team had maintained the good quality of education and that Ladywood is a ‘happy place where children feel safe and cared for’.
“Barnsley Alliance therefore endorses the view that Ladywood is a good school.
“Barnsley Alliance also recognises that each school will need to make decisions concerning finances and operational delivery often in very difficult circumstances and of course acknowledges the right of staff, unions, parents and community members to register their legitimate protest to decisions made. However, we ask all parties to recognise that it is in the best interests of all our children if protests are conducted in a manner that is respectful of school premises and to be mindful that even minor disruption can be very disturbing to young children.”
Trade union, Unison, are continuing to support staff and are documenting their strike action on social media.
