School Support Staff are more likely to experience violence at work than almost any other group of workers in the UK. Being attacked either verbally or physically is not part of the job. GMB members say that many incidents go unreported.

So being part of GMB is one of most important decisions anyone working with children can make. GMB membership gives you two excellent protections: Indemnity cover and free advice and representation if you face police action as a result of a complaint by a parent or child, plus representation and support at regulatory hearings through our wholly owned law firm UNIONLINE.

Health and Safety Executive (HSE), UK wide research shows that:

• There are 3 recorded incidents a month of school support staff suffering major injuries involving violence, e.g. fractures and dislocations;
• Every other day, at least one member of school support staff suffers a violent injury which leads to at least three days’ absence from work.

If schools and academies fail to provide their employees with a safe working environment they are breaking the law.

Act against violence

• Report all incidents of violence to your GMB contact and your employer. These reports give GMB an overview of what is happening and enable GMB to determine if remedial measures have an effect.
• Contact GMB’s law firm UNIONLINE on 0300 3330 303 if you are assaulted or injured at work.
• If you are worried that a specific disruptive pupil’s risk assessment is not adequate and there is risk of serious injury to health, contact your local GMB immediately.
• Encourage non-GMB members to join GMB and to report violence they see or experience.
• Get together with other GMB members and elect a GMB Health & Safety rep for your school. This will enable preventative measures to be put in place and issues to be handled collectively rather than individually.

If you need immediate help or more information, support or advice, contact…

Your local GMB workplace organiser:

Your national officer: avril.chambers@gmb.org.uk
Your national schools organiser: karen.leonard@gmb.org.uk
GMB Academies Hotline: 0800 035 6406

Your regional schools officers:

GMB Birmingham & West Midlands Region: stuart.perry@gmb.org.uk
GMB London Region: colin.greer@gmb.org.uk
GMB Midland & East Coast Region: les.dobbs@gmb.org.uk
GMB Northern Region: chris.jukes@gmb.org.uk
GMB North West & Irish Region: karen.lewis@gmb.org.uk
GMB Southern Region: donna.dowling@gmb.org.uk
GMB Wales & South West Region: martin.hird@gmb.org.uk
GMB Yorkshire & North Derbyshire Region: rachel.harrison@gmb.org.uk

Posted: 30^th September 2015

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