Sinn Fein Minister to cut pay of classroom assistants

[Jolly Red Giant]

Classroom assistants across Northern Ireland are preparing for industrial action to defend their pay.

Their employers, the Education and Library Boards acting under the direction of Education Minister Catriona Ruane, are proposing to cut their pay by as much as 79p an hour. The insulting move comes at the end of years of negotiation by the main trade unions representing Classroom Assistants, NIPSA and UNISON.

Unfortunately the negotiating process has delivered nothing. In fact it would be fair to say that over the last few years the position of the Classroom Assistants has become a lot worse. The issue has reached the point where Classroom Assistants have no other choice than to fight.

To force the employers to return to the table with a serious offer the unions must make it clear that they intend taking serious action; a one-day strike would have no effect. What is required is extended action that gives the employers no way out. A properly organised strike will have serious repercussions in almost every school in Northern Ireland.

With up to 7,000 Assistants involved, schools would close for weeks. This action can force the employers to make a real offer and engage in meaningful negotiations. The summer months give a window of opportunity to prepare for a major strike by putting an effective organisation in place, linking unions, developing strike committees and strengthening the leadership of the union.

[Conuil]

Classroom assistants across Northern Ireland are preparing for industrial action to defend their pay.

Their employers, the Education and Library Boards acting under the direction of Education Minister Catriona Ruane, are proposing to cut their pay by as much as 79p an hour. The insulting move comes at the end of years of negotiation by the main trade unions representing Classroom Assistants, NIPSA and UNISON.

Unfortunately the negotiating process has delivered nothing. In fact it would be fair to say that over the last few years the position of the Classroom Assistants has become a lot worse. The issue has reached the point where Classroom Assistants have no other choice than to fight.

To force the employers to return to the table with a serious offer the unions must make it clear that they intend taking serious action; a one-day strike would have no effect. What is required is extended action that gives the employers no way out. A properly organised strike will have serious repercussions in almost every school in Northern Ireland.

With up to 7,000 Assistants involved, schools would close for weeks. This action can force the employers to make a real offer and engage in meaningful negotiations. The summer months give a window of opportunity to prepare for a major strike by putting an effective organisation in place, linking unions, developing strike committees and strengthening the leadership of the union.

Do U have a link for this Chara?

[irishpeoplearewhingers]

"it's about rights......"

[Lámh dearg abú]

[quote="Jolly Red Giant"]Classroom assistants across Northern Ireland are preparing for industrial action to defend their pay.

Their employers, the Education and Library Boards acting under the direction of Education Minister Catriona Ruane, are proposing to cut their pay by as much as 79p an hour.

Me thinks your play with words here is a little contrived Yes/No?

[Jolly Red Giant]

No play on words -

Classroom assistants in the North have been engaged in a 12 year campaign for proper pay and conditions. This resulted in the dispute being referred to a job evaluation scheme.

on 31 May, Catriona Ruane, SF Minister for Education announced that she had authorised a settlement in the dispute as a result of a recommendation from the evalutaion. She instructed the Dept of Education to give approval to the Education and Library Board to make a final offer to the two unions involved NIPSA and UNISON.

http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/ne...s-approval.htm

On June 19 NIPSA held a special meeting of its General Council to discuss the fact that, as a result of this decision, thousands of classroom assistants face a pay cut. NIPSA's General Council set about organising plans for an escalation in the dispute.

http://www.nipsa.org.uk/uploads/news...RC%2026-07.pdf

This dispute is likely to mirror the dispute in 2000/2001 involving term-time workers when Martin McGuinness was Minister for Education. After a long running campaign the workers (members of NIPSA) succeeded in forcing McGuinness into an embarassing climb-down winning their dispute.

http://www.geocities.com/socialistpa...vspring01D.htm

[Tiernanator]

I am afraid this is realpolitiks. It is hard work. As a Sinn Fein member I am on the side of the classroom assistants on this one. Strange that your not talking about Catriona's other big story which is counsellors in every school to try to stop the increasing numbers of young people attempting/carrying out suicide.

I am sure if Catriona had the budget she would give the classroom assistants their pay rise. She is however accountable to the Minister of Finance/ First Minister if she overspends. Unfortunately as with all parties of the left, when you become part of the system then you are part of the system.

The Greens in the ROI are already learning this hard lesson. It is real life.

[PatMcL]

Newsflash !


After inheriting a 12 year old industrial dispute Catriona Ruane the newly elected SF Education Minister has announced that she has authorised the payment of £30 million to help settle the dispute on the recommendation of the evaluation procedure (a procedure entered into by both Employers and the Trade Unions).

[Jolly Red Giant]

Newsflash !


After inheriting a 12 year old industrial dispute Catriona Ruane the newly elected SF Education Minister has announced that she has authorised the payment of £30 million to help settle the dispute on the recommendation of the evaluation procedure (a procedure entered into by both Employers and the Trade Unions).

The £30million was announced before the details of the proposal to be sent to the unions was outlined. This was in order to give the impression that the Dept of Education were improving the pay of classroom assistants and save Ruane from embarrassment.

Since then the unions have seen the proposals which include a pay cut for thousands of classrooms assistants. This is the reason the unions are now taking industrial action.

[PatMcL]

'The £30million was announced before the details of the proposal to be sent to the unions was outlined. This was in order to give the impression that the Dept of Education were improving the pay of classroom assistants and save Ruane from embarrassment.'

Did someone in the Dept of Education tell you this are are you simply hammering this piece of the jigsaw in to make it fit?

'Since then the unions have seen the proposals which include a pay cut for thousands of classrooms assistants. This is the reason the unions are now taking industrial action.'

Did the T.U's not know of the mechanisms of the evaluation procedure? Did they agree to a process without knowing that the evaluation procedure might count against the people they claim to represent?

It looks to me like Ruane is trying to pull, a very remiss TU movement out of a hole. Imagine allowing a dispute to fester for 12 years?

[Cael]

Not surprising, PSF tried to save Her Majsety's money last time by shutting down a hospital. Maybe PSF should change their name to NIPDs?