HUNDREDS of school support staff are set to take to the ballot box in the next week to decide whether to go on strike over a proposed pay cut.

The GMB union says Swindon Borough Council failed to negotiate with them before coming to the decision which they have described as scandalous as 500 members are set to be out of pocket come next April.

GMB is balloting members who work directly for the council but is seeking clarification from academies in Swindon on whether they will implement the same changes as the council.

If the academies decide to follow the council’s lead, their staff will also have the chance to cast a ballot vote.

GMB said it had no choice but to call for the ballot after talks and negotiations with the council broke down.

GMB regional officer Carole Vallelly said: “School support staff, which include teaching assistants, caretakers, office staff, librarians and other non-teaching staff, are incredibly dedicated and hardworking and are both under-appreciated and under-rewarded, as their wages are far too low already.

“The issue that GMB are balloting over is the introduction of new pay points within the scales of pay increments that staff receive each year until they reach the top of the pay scale.

“Some staff would now have to work a whopping nine years to reach the top of the pay scale, instead of the current five years.

“This is a slow motion pay cut that affects those who show dedication and stay in the job for the long term most harshly.

“As GMB is a recognized trade union with Swindon Borough Council, their failure to negotiate is a breach of contract. We do not believe these changes are acceptable and are recommending rejection of this proposal by our members.”

However, the council says they offered a meeting with the union some weeks ago.

A spokesman said: “We agree school support staff are highly valued by schools and the children they work with.

“However, this is not a proposed pay cut as the GMB implies and that staff will continue to receive cost of living increases to keep pace with inflation.

“We do not feel that strike action is necessary and we have already consulted with other trade unions on this matter, such as Unison and Unite, on a two-year pay deal. Both unions are not balloting for action.

“School budgets are under pressure and this will be the case until 2018 when Swindon schools should receive additional funding with the introduction of a national funding formula.” The ballot will run until Friday.