So here’s the deal: Kent County Council wants to restructure the STLS team. They’re talking about merging roles, changing work patterns, and, crucially, cutting specialist teacher posts to replace them with more generic “advisory” positions. To the staff, it sounds like “we’re ditching the expertise you spent years building, and we’re calling it ‘modernisation’.” Funny how that works, isn’t it?
The strike isn’t about money—it’s about identity and trust. One striker told a local paper, “I feel like they’re trying to erase my profession.” Ouch. When your job is helping kids with autism or dyslexia, you don’t just “change roles” like you swap a cup of tea for coffee. It’s personal. It’s human.
The irony? The council probably thought this was a quiet, internal reshuffle.
But instead, they’ve got picket lines outside Maidstone, leaflets in the rain, and a whole lot of “KCC, show us the respect” energy. Let’s be honest—council restructures are usually as thrilling as watching paint dry. You know what I mean, right? But when the paint is your career and the people you care for? Suddenly, it’s a blockbuster drama.
The UNISON union is backing the strike, and they’ve been pretty blunt: “These changes will damage services for vulnerable children.” And that’s the kicker. The strike isn’t just about job titles. It’s about what happens to the kids who need that quiet, calm specialist who understands how their brain works. Spoiler alert: a generic advisory role might not cut it.
Unite union criticises Kent county councillor’s call for 10% jobs cull
