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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Teaching assistants' pay strike sees County Durham schools close | Teaching assistants' pay strike sees County Durham schools close |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| More than 100 schools are either closed or cutting classes as a 48-hour strike by teaching assistants in County Durham gets under way. | More than 100 schools are either closed or cutting classes as a 48-hour strike by teaching assistants in County Durham gets under way. |
| The support staff are protesting against the county council's proposal to only pay them during term time. | The support staff are protesting against the county council's proposal to only pay them during term time. |
| Unions ATL and Unison say the move would see some people lose about 20% of their salary. | Unions ATL and Unison say the move would see some people lose about 20% of their salary. |
| The council argues it could face equal pay claims from other employees if it does not make the cuts. | The council argues it could face equal pay claims from other employees if it does not make the cuts. |
| Reaction to the teaching assistant strikes and other news from north-east England | Reaction to the teaching assistant strikes and other news from north-east England |
| Picket lines were operating outside about 50 schools in the area, according to union officials, with lobbying of a council meeting planned for Wednesday. | Picket lines were operating outside about 50 schools in the area, according to union officials, with lobbying of a council meeting planned for Wednesday. |
| Jen Linford said she felt "so under-valued" that she quit her teaching assistant role after 37 years. | |
| Joining a picket line in Blackhall, near Peterlee, Mrs Linford said: "If the council walked in our shoes they would realise we deserve more not less. I think it's shameful. | Joining a picket line in Blackhall, near Peterlee, Mrs Linford said: "If the council walked in our shoes they would realise we deserve more not less. I think it's shameful. |
| "I still have bills to pay, but morally I just thought that I deserved more and I'm not going to do this anymore. So currently, I work in Asda. | "I still have bills to pay, but morally I just thought that I deserved more and I'm not going to do this anymore. So currently, I work in Asda. |
| "I have had cuddles this morning from children that I left in July. It's very upsetting. | "I have had cuddles this morning from children that I left in July. It's very upsetting. |
| "I feel the skills that I gained over many years are not being used as they should." | "I feel the skills that I gained over many years are not being used as they should." |
| 'No other option' | 'No other option' |
| Unison General Secretary Dave Prentis said: "The way these teaching assistants have been treated is nothing short of disgraceful. | Unison General Secretary Dave Prentis said: "The way these teaching assistants have been treated is nothing short of disgraceful. |
| "The number of schools closing as a result shows how strongly staff feel. | "The number of schools closing as a result shows how strongly staff feel. |
| "They regret any disruption to parents but feel they have no other option." | "They regret any disruption to parents but feel they have no other option." |
| Councillors voted in May to dismiss the classroom assistants and re-employ them on term-time contracts from January 2017, with one year's compensation. | Councillors voted in May to dismiss the classroom assistants and re-employ them on term-time contracts from January 2017, with one year's compensation. |
| Following discussions, that offer was increased to two years' compensation with the new terms to be introduced from April 2017. | Following discussions, that offer was increased to two years' compensation with the new terms to be introduced from April 2017. |
| Members of the GMB and Unite unions voted to accept it. | Members of the GMB and Unite unions voted to accept it. |
| John Hewitt, the county council's corporate director for resources, said: "The legal advice is unequivocal - the status quo is not an option. | John Hewitt, the county council's corporate director for resources, said: "The legal advice is unequivocal - the status quo is not an option. |
| "There is a real and substantial risk from costly equal pay claims which are already materialising and which use teaching assistants as the comparator - most people are not paid for hours and weeks they don't work - so addressing this is also an issue of fairness." | "There is a real and substantial risk from costly equal pay claims which are already materialising and which use teaching assistants as the comparator - most people are not paid for hours and weeks they don't work - so addressing this is also an issue of fairness." |
| On Monday the council said 37 of the county's 243 schools - mainly nurseries and special schools - would be closed with 76 seeing classes interrupted. | On Monday the council said 37 of the county's 243 schools - mainly nurseries and special schools - would be closed with 76 seeing classes interrupted. |