Classroom assistants to strike

Schools across Northern Ireland face serious disruption tomorrow after eleventh hours talks failed to avert a one day strike by thousands of classroom assistants.

The strike action over pay goes ahead after Education Minister Caitriona Ruane failed to get employers and unions to agree a deal over a regrading dispute which has been running for an astonishing 12 years.

However after 90 minutes of late night talks both sides appeared to be more optimistic of a agreement which could prevent a three day follow up strike planned for next month.

Confirming the strike was going ahead the unions said more talks are to be held on Friday.

Most special schools are expected to be closed by the strike and mainstream schools are likely to shut at lunchtime.

Up to 7,000 classroom assistants, members of Unison and NIPSA are engaged in the pay fight – part of a regrading structure through out education boards – and many are expected to attend a rally and march in central Belfast at lunchtime.

More will mount pickets on the gates of dozens of schools across each of the five education board areas.

The Education Minister has come under increasing pressure over her handling of the efforts to avert a strike and earlier today was summoned before the Stormont Assembly for the second time in two days to discuss the dispute.

During her latest grilling she was forced to admit she knew nothing about a letter was sent by her permanent secretary to the employers ahead of talks yesterday telling them any new pay offer would have to be sanctioned by her the department.

Under attack from the DUP the Sinn Fein minister accused her detractors of doing a disservice to children by turning the issue into a political football.

Education Committee chairman Sammy Wilson, [DUP East Antrim] asked her if she could explain to the chamber how, if she was right she was keeping herself informed on efforts to resolve e the dispute, she was unaware of correspondence sent from her department.

“Would the minister now tell us if by intervention – and she told us she was going to intervene immediately yesterday – she cannot become directly involved, she cannot talk about the issues of the negotiations, she cannot meet with either side because she has got to remain above this dispute – what exactly is her role.

“Will she now commit to this assembly as a matter or urgency to meet with the people involved in this dispute, to put some fresh ideas on the table? Can she give a commitment to look for resources within her department to make sure that the people she says are not getting a fair deal do get a fair deal?”

Education Minister Caitriona Ruane has welcomed progress towards resolving the classroom assistants’ dispute despite the strike going ahead.

The minister said: “Today I met with the employers and as a result a later meeting took place between the employers and union representatives.

“I am pleased that progress has been made towards resolving this dispute and recognising the invaluable work that classroom assistants perform for our children.

“This is a time for moving forward and I am convinced this dispute can be resolved through dialogue that explores new and creative thinking. Further meetings are planned for coming days and by sticking at this we can achieve a positive outcome.”