Thousands of teaching assistants and other school support staff were being asked this week if they would support strike action over the abolition of a new body dedicated to creating a fairer pay structure. About 200,000 members of Unison will receive consultative ballot papers asking them if they would support a strike or action short of a strike over the issue. The Government is abolishing the School Support Staff Negotiating Body, which was established under Labour to create a national pay structure for support staff.