Thousands of students face nervous wait as GCSE & A-level results set to be affected by exam board walkout
STUDENTS are bracing for results day chaos as staff at an exam board agree to stage 72-hour walkout.
The strike could affect the delivery of thousands of GCSE and A-level results on August 18 and August 25.
Staff at exam board AQA will walk out for three days, from Friday July 29 to Sunday July 31.
Those striking are involved in awarding grades to kids who sat their GCSE and A-level exams this year.
The union warned industrial action is likely to escalate unless talks are reopened, union Unison said.
Staff claim they are struggling to make ends after successive below-inflation pay awards.
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AQA workers were given an increase of 0.6 per cent last year – with 3 per cent offered this year.
But Unison said the rise is a real-terms pay cut.
Unison official Lizanne Devonport said the workers have been left with “no other option” but to strike.
“Pay has been falling behind prices for years and 3 per cent isn’t a wage rise, with costs spiralling it’s a pay cut,” she said.
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“Things are so bad staff are fearful they will no longer be able to make ends meet.
“Workers only strike as a last resort. They’d rather be doing the jobs that they’re proud of.
“They don’t want to disrupt students and know how important exam results are to them.”