Classroom Assistants Strike For Their Rights
Public service workers across the Six Counties are to strike this week in an attempt to resolve a long running pay dispute. On Wednesday (September 26), around 2,500 NIPSA trade union members working as classroom assistants will be taking approved action – a move backed by 93 per cent of those balloted.
The dispute centres on the contractual rights of the notoriously low paid assistants to have their posts evaluated in a manner which would confirm their entitlement to back pay dated from 1995.
Their employers, in the form of the five Education and Library Boards based in the Six Counties, have sought to alter the assistants’ contracts in the face of British government financial cutbacks. The ELB tampering will have a very practical and detrimental impact for all classroom assistants.
For example, a full-time classroom assistant works a 32.5-hour-week in line with school opening hours. Hourly rates of pay are based on that working week. But in an attempt to cut back-pay and future payment, the employers are insisting that rates of pay should be based on a notional 36-hour-week. This would reduce rates of pay by more than £1 (1.43 euro) per hour.
NIPSA have been involved in prolonged negotiations with the Six County Department of Education in relation to the proposed attack on wages but have, so far, made no meaningful headway.
Janette Murdock, a classroom assistant at Tor Bank Special School in Dundonald, county Down responded to claims from a Department of Education spokesperson that the strike would disrupt the education of children.
“If this isn't sorted out the children's education will suffer more. Experienced and qualified staff will be forced to leave the job. The boards will have downgraded the jobs so much that they will have created an inexperienced, high-turnover workforce - that will affect children more in the long-term!” she said.
Éirígí chairperson, Brian Leeson, expressed strong support for the strike.
“Classroom assistants in the Six Counties, and everywhere else, provide an invaluable public service to our children and the wider community. All they are asking in return is for a decent income.”
“However, this strike isn’t solely about a just level of pay. Classroom assistants are striking to ensure that, in future, all children – especially those with special needs – will have the best possible educational opportunities. The employers’ attempts to cut the pay and rights of these workers damages the interests of children and, eventually, it will force dedicated and experienced staff to look elsewhere for better pay and conditions.”
Leeson concluded,
“In the run up to the restoration of the Stormont institutions, politicians from several parties proclaimed that devolution would serve the interests of ‘ordinary people’ in the Six Counties. Clearly, classroom assistants were one group of ‘ordinary people’ whose interests were excluded from their considerations.”
If Wednesday’s strike is unsuccessful in securing the rights of classroom assistants, further action will take place on October 2, 3 and 4, with all out strike action commencing on Monday, October 8 if no resolution is reached.
NIPSA’s strike committee have called a public march and rally on Wednesday September 26 to coincide with the day’s action.
People should assemble at Belfast’s Writers’ Square in Donegall Street at 12.30pm for a march to Custom House Square.
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