BY AUSTIN LYNCH

At the start of this week, classroom assistants in schools across the county were back at work.

Sandra Dunlop, the Principal of Elmbrook School reported that "all classroom assistants in her school were back in classes, the school was running smoothly and starting preparations for Christmas."

However, it is unclear how long this ideal situation will remain as the dispute between the classroom assistants and the employers has yet to be resolved.

NIPSA, the only union to go on strike to date, has still not yet accepted any offer on the table and, at time of going to Press, further strikes by NIPSA members are still a distinct possibility.

Sandra Dunlop told the 'Herald' she was aware there that a NIPSA meeting was taking place last night (Tuesday) in the Killyhevlin Hotel and that she would have to wait for information about what took place at this meeting.

In another development, it now appears that teachers themselves may go on strike action if a controversial proposal allowing parents into school to cover for striking classroom assistants gets the go ahead.

According to sources, this is one of the contingency plans that Education Boards may be considering in an effort to keep primary schools open should classroom assistants take to the picket line again.

Meanwhile, classroom assistants who are part of the GMB Union have recently voted , by a four to one margin, to accept the latest offer from their employers.

Management's offer will see a re-grading of all 7,000 classroom assistants' jobs, with a significant percentage of the jobs upgraded at an estimated cost of £3.5 million.

No single classroom assistant will have a pay cut while, in addition, all existing staff who are not upgraded will receive full pay protection. This will ensure they continue to benefit from future pay increases.

The GMB, which represents 1,500 classroom assistants involved in the dispute, is the first union to accept the latest management's offer.