The GMB union has accused Labour of misusing savings from the school support staff pension scheme to fund teachers' pay rises. The union argues that approximately £500 million in savings from reduced employer contributions to the Local Government Pension Scheme should have been used to increase support staff pay instead. This decision comes after the teachers' union (NEU) threatened strikes over inadequate funding for teachers' pay awards.

The pension scheme savings mean schools need to contribute 4.9% less for support staff members this year, though individual staff pensions remain entirely unaffected. Support staff, including dinner ladies, caretakers and teaching assistants, will receive 3.3% pay rises compared to teachers' 3.5%. The GMB, representing 100,000 school support staff described as the "poorest paid group in education," argues the Government should have used the windfall to boost their wages. However, the NEU and Department for Education counter that the arrangement protects 8,300 jobs that would have been at risk from an unfunded teachers' award, ultimately keeping money within the school system.