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Assistants starting strike action Schools to close as 3,000 strike
(20 minutes later)
Some schools are expected to close later as classroom assistants begin a three-day strike. Thouands of classroom assistants are on strike in an escalation of their dispute over re-grading.
It comes after Nipsa union members rejected a new pay offer. Some special schools are to close as 3,000 assistants who are members of Nipsa begin a three-day strike.
On Friday, the unions were offered a new deal which included a £15m one-off payment to compensate for a change in the way salaries are calculated.On Friday, the unions were offered a new deal which included a £15m one-off payment to compensate for a change in the way salaries are calculated.
Unions say that could mean £2,500 for each classroom assistant, but Nipsa said that the offer did not go far enough. Unions say that could mean £2,500 for each assistant. However, Nipsa said the offer did not go far enough.
Education Minister Caitriona Ruane said talks planned for Wednesday should be brought forward. Special schools will be hardest hit. Many of them may have to close as it is too risky for pupils with special needs to attend without their assistants.
"They should be getting together and talking until we get this resolved - this is not good enough," she said. Many mainstream schools have told parents whose children have assistants allocated to them, to keep them at home.
Ballot An all-out strike by Nipsa is planned from next Monday unless a settlement is agreed.
The other main union, Unison, was to have held a ballot on strike action.The other main union, Unison, was to have held a ballot on strike action.
However, after meeting with representatives they have suspended the ballot.However, after meeting with representatives they have suspended the ballot.
During the one-day strike last week most special schools had to close.
Mainstream schools remained open, but they say it would be much harder to cope with a longer strike.
Nipsa members are also planning "all-out" strike action from 8 October.
The union's Alison Millar said: "We would call on employers now to put a serious offer on the table because the all-out strike can be averted."