Classroom Assistants' Pay Offer Rejected

A three-day strike by classroom assistants is set to go ahead as unions reject the latest pay offer.

The main trade union representing classroom assistants has rejected the latest offer from Education and Library Boards to resolve the long running dispute over pay and grading.

Unions were offered a one-off £15 million payment to compensate for a reworking of salary calculations that would give classroom assistants up to £2,500 a year more. But this was rejected by the unions and the three-day strike set to start on Tuesday this week will go ahead.

The union said it would be consulting with all Classroom Assistants to reaffirm members’ full support to proceed with all out strike action with effect from 8 October 2007.

NIPSA’s negotiator Alison Millar said;- "NIPSA’s elected representatives of Classroom Assistants unanimously rejected the employers’ offer tabled on Friday as wholly failing to address the key issues that caused this dispute. The three days strike action starting tomorrow must therefore go ahead as planned."

NIPSA General Secretary John Corey added:- "NIPSA represents over 3,000 Classroom Assistants and our members have made very clear their determination to take strike action until the employers come up with proposals that address the key issues causing the dispute. They have the full backing of NIPSA.”

The union is threatening all out strike from next Monday, 8 October.

Last Wednesday NIPSA called out thousands of classroom assistants on strike causing major disruption to many schools.

(SP)