The GMB union says Education Secretary Lucy Powell is using money from school support staff to help pay for teachers’ pay rises, and it accuses the government of misusing funds. In its complaint, the union argues that support staff should not be required to contribute to broader teacher pay increases.
The outlet reports that the union represents around 100,000 school support staff and that GMB has called Powell’s actions “disgusting,” saying she “should be ashamed.” The reporting frames the dispute as one over how pay-related costs are funded in schools.
The article presents the union’s accusation but does not include a detailed response from the government or Powell, nor does it provide specific figures or documentation explaining the funding mechanism. As a result, while the controversy and the union’s criticism are clear, the underlying policy details and government justification are not fully described in the account provided.
