Unions target MPs for help in Ofsted pay dispute

Members of Unison and the Public and Commercial Services Union targeted Children's Secretary Ed Balls and other cabinet members, such as Beverley Hughes and Jim Knight, to ask them to intervene in the pay dispute.

Ofsted staff are currently working to rule and refusing to do overtime or use their personal cars for business as part of a campaign of action against an imposed three-year settlement.

Staff have previously taken strike action over the deal, which is based on moving them to a divisive new pay structure.

Unison national officer Helga Pile said the long summer break gives MPs time to take action for their constituents working in Ofsted.

"Lobbying the employers to give staff a fair deal would be an important step in the right direction," she said. "Our members working in Ofsted have families and they cannot take another year of worrying about how to pay for the very basics of life."