Special needs assistant strike averted by new working rules

A possible strike by special needs assistants (SNAs) has been averted by new rules giving those employed part-time a better chance of extra hours in schools.

The Department of Education was served with notice of industrial action by Impact trade union in March on the issue. It raised concerns that many of its 6,500 SNA members were being overlooked by schools that had extra SNA work if a child with care needs was allocated hours.

They said that hiring other part-time SNAs for those extra hours was causing a fragementation of SNA posts in schools. Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan said in April that she shared concerns about the situation, but could not tell schools how to deal with the issue without first consulting with their representative bodies.