20/09/2007

Classroom Assistants To Strike

Classroom assistants across Northern Ireland are planning a one-day strike if negotiations are not reached over pay.

The strike is planned to take place next Wednesday, 26 September, followed by more in the following weeks, if the situation is not resolved.

The Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance (NIPSA) confirmed last week that over 1,000 assistants voted in favour of a strike.

NIPSA said there was no other alternative, since changes were brought in which will affect new workers.

Managers want to calculate the pro-rata hourly rate on a full-time 36-hour week. It had previously been worked out on a 32.5 hour week.

Alison Millar, Assistant Secretary of NIPSA, said: "Classroom Assistants are being denied justice and fairness. This overwhelming vote in favour of strike action confirms how determined members are to fight for their entitlements under job evaluation which is being denied to them.”

NIPSA also said that if agreement was not reached in the coming weeks, the crisis would lead to an all out strike.

(LC/SP)

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