There is set to be strike action by over 100 workers at exam board AQA in an ongoing dispute over pay.

Staff have rejected a pay offer from AQA, as they say this doesn't go far enough to address years of real terms pay cuts. They are calling for pay restoration as their pay is now worth over 10 per cent less than it was in 2021.

While AQA has a huge cash reserve of £164 million, the situation has left staff struggling to cope with the increased cost of living.

Half of workers say their level of debt has increased over the last year and over 10 per cent said they regularly use or are considering using food banks to make ends meet.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "It is completely unacceptable that workers at a wealthy organisation have been left struggling to afford the basics. AQA can more than afford to fix this by paying its workforce properly.

"AQA must change tack and invest in its hardworking staff. Until that happens, Unite will give our members at AQA its full support."

Workers at AQA are also calling for an independent equalities review of the pay structure, currently slated for 2028, to be brought forward, changes to the pay framework to address pay gaps and for apprenticeship pay increases to be backdated to 2024.

AQA has offices in Guildford, London, Harrogate, Manchester and Milton Keynes. Workers involved in the dispute do various jobs, including in communications and marketing, data analysis and typesetting.

Unite members at AQA will strike on 16 and 17 July. They will also be visiting Parliament on 17 July to lobby MPs on the issue of low pay at AQA.

Unite regional officer Jesika Parmar said: "Any strike action is the fault of AQA, who has refused to give its staff a meaningful pay rise.

"Industrial action can be avoided, but it relies on AQA taking our members' concerns about pay seriously and coming back to the table with an improved offer.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

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