UNISON urged Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson today to intervene to reinstate a school teaching assistant who was suspended shortly after organising a successful strike ballot.

The union’s general secretary Andrea Egan said that Leicester rep Tom Barker was sanctioned last October for his role in opposing cuts to health and safety and redundancies at Ash Field Academy.

She said: “The trust has behaved despicably in this case.

“The trust could and should end this dispute now.

“This dispute should never have happened. Bridget Phillipson should now do what the school and trust failed to do by insisting he is allowed to get back to the classroom.”

Support staff at the school run by Discovery Schools Academy Trust finished a four-day walkout in support of Mr Barker today, marking their 15th day of industrial action during the dispute.

Ms Egan wrote to ask for the Department for Education to investigate his case, which Unison has campaigned over for months.

In her letter, she says: “Unison is certain that the employer’s response is directly related to the rep’s role in opposing cuts to health and safety and redundancies.”

The letter makes clear that suspending a rep for legitimate union activity would amount to a breach of the law.

Unison is calling for the staff member to be allowed to return to work, a full investigation of the incident and for education trusts to be held accountable if they fail to uphold employment laws. The union has also written to the trust.

A spokesperson for Discovery Schools Academies Trust said: “Discovery Schools Academies Trust continues to respect the legal right of staff to take industrial action and remains committed to constructive dialogue with trade union representatives.

“Our priority throughout remains the safety, wellbeing, and continuity of support for pupils and families at Ash Field Academy.

“The recent industrial action follows concerns raised by union members, including in relation to a staff member. This is an individual and confidential HR matter, and it would be inappropriate to comment further while the process is ongoing.

“We take our responsibilities as an employer, and our duty of care to staff and pupils, extremely seriously.

“Any decisions taken by Discovery Trust are made in line with our policies and procedures, and with a focus on ensuring a safe, stable, and high-quality environment for the children and young people in our schools.”

The department was contacted for comment.