By Michele Canning Smith
Strike action yesterday morning (Wed) by classroom assistants could lead to an all out strike next month if a long running dispute over pay is not resolved.
Classrooms assistants say an offer tabled in June by the Education Board is derisory.
NIPSA members rejected it saying it was an attack on their pay, terms conditions; lowered and devalued classroom assistants and that children's education will suffer from an unskilled high turnover workforce.
Three days of strike action is planned for October and will culminate in 'all out' strike action on October 8th.
At Gaelscoil Ui Dhochartaigh, there was obvious support for the five classroom assistants as they picketed outside the school.
Parents stopped to voice support, tooted horns and waved at the gathering as unsuspecting children queried the scene.
On the picket line was former Chairman of Strabane Council and Councillor Brian McMahon, a classroom assistant at the school.
Michéal O Dufaigh told us, "We don't want to be here but things have just come to a head now."
He said the Board is recommending that assistants who work with children with Special Needs will lose their extra pay and be on the same band as other assistants.
"We earn just slightly more than the minimum wage and under the proposals we could lose anything between £50 to £80 a month.
'Personally, I would lose out on £60 a month," adds Micheal.
Patsy McElchar added, "Without the classroom assistant and the in the absence of resource teachers, a teacher would have to spend more of their time with a child with special needs and it means that other children lose out."
Brídín Mhic Aoidh points to the fact that in her class, primary one, there are 27 children.
"They need their classroom assistant in there, not out here."
Brian McMahon added, "This is very difficult for us, it's drastic action. We have an emotional attachment to the school in that we are not only classroom assistants but also Irish language enthusiasts.
"That has made it harder for us to go on strike but we have been forced into this.
"What many people don't realise is that this has been ongoing for over ten years. If the argument is lost by the Board then it is opening itself up to claims going back ten years, costing them millions of pounds and they don't want to lose this battle."
Minister for Education, Catriona Ruane, has urged the Boards to reach a settlement with the classroom assistants and to "put more money in their pay packets" - but even yet the Boards have not agreed a settlement.
A Western Education and Library Board (WELD) spokesperson said: "The Classroom Assistant Pay and Grading issue applies to all classroom assistants employed by the five Education and Library Boards and is currently the subject of detailed, central negotiations between the Boards and the accredited trade unions, representing the interests of staff. It is not an issue which is exclusive to the WELB.
"In light of the critical nature and stage of ongoing negotiations it is deemed inappropriate for one Board to provide commentary on an issue which affects all staff employed as Classroom Assistants in schools throughout Northern Ireland."
