LIPA Multi Academy Trust holds ‘constructive discussions’ with union amid concerns from MPs

The National Education Union (NEU) and Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPA) Multi Academy Trust have held “constructive discussions” after several MPs voiced their support for striking teachers at the school’s sixth form college.

Last month an early day motion urging the LIPA Multi Academy Trust to “immediately” sign a trade union recognition agreement was signed by 20 – mostly Labour – MPs, affirming that they “stand in solidarity” with staff “left with no choice” but to take strike action due to “inefficient management practices and health and safety concerns”.

The motion also called for the trust to engage in meaningful negotiations with staff to resolve the dispute.

The NEU, which represents 60% of LIPA’s staff, has led industrial action every working day from 24 February to 7 March, in an ongoing row over management practices, health and safety concerns, and union recognition.

While NEU has confirmed further strike action for next week (beginning 17 March), the organisations have issued a joint statement revealing that talks were held on 6 March with a follow-up meeting scheduled on 13 March “to continue working towards a resolution”.

“We all recognise the importance of resolving this dispute, and we were pleased to make progress,” the statement said.

‘Demoralised and insignificant’

Established in 2022, LIPA Multi Academy Trust comprises LIPA Primary, LIPA High School and LIPA Sixth Form College. It is a separate institution from LIPA Higher Education, which was founded by Sir Paul McCartney in 1995, although the two share the same campus.

NEU first announced that staff at the school’s sixth form would be going on strike over alleged “serious health and safety failures” at the college last June, a few months after an Ofsted rated the trust’s secondary and primary school as “requires improvement”.

The inspection report said that students “do not feel safe” due to a lack of respect from older pupils toward each other and the school environment.

The union told the BBC that students were forced to “dance around buckets due to a leaking roof”. It also claimed that staff felt “demoralised and insignificant” over complaints including safeguarding issues, mouldy carpets, a lack of ventilation, poor IT systems and increased workloads.

Bora Oktas, regional officer of the NEU, said at the time: “The secondary building is unfit for purpose, lacking basic amenities such as a staffroom, drinking water and internet access.”

LIPA has previously refuted the union’s claims of safety issues, accusing the NEU of pursuing industrial action for “its own interests” and alleging that it has prioritised securing a trade union recognition agreement ahead of the best interests of staff and students.

Trade union recognition

During last week’s strike, Liverpool MPs Ian Byrne and Kim Johnson visited the picket line to show their support, while local council leader Liam Robinson and councillor Lila Bennett wrote to LIPA Multi Academy Trust chair Sean McNamara urging the trust to formally recognise the teachers’ union and allow it to negotiate on the college’s behalf.

“I implore you to sit down with the staff and find common ground so industrial action can be brought to a close,” the letter read.

“Prolonged strike action is disruptive for pupils, parents and staff. The striking teachers desperately want to get back to their classrooms and continue to work with their students. Trade union recognition would bring these strikes to a close.

“Workplace representation plays a vital role in staff well-being and the protection of their rights. They can bridge the gap between staff and the trustees, lead to better staff retention, and facilitate a better working environment in the long term that delivers high-quality education to the students.”