BY MARK McKELVEY

THE vital role of classroom assistants was fully illustrated this week when Arvalee Special School had to close its doors for three days due to a six counties-wide strike against looming pay cuts.

The school will open again on Friday but it is believed this could be the last for some time, as classroom assistants are set to take indefinite strike action from this coming Monday onwards, unless management meets their demands.

Following a union meeting at the Silverbirch Hotel on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the latest management proposals, a delegation of eight out of the 20- plus Arvalee classroom assistants visited the UH office to explain why they have been forced into this drastic action.

"We universally rejected what has been offered to us by the management in our local union meeting on Tuesday," said the classroom assistants. "We now have to wait to get a collaboration of opinion from throughout the North before a final decision is made later this week to either accept or reject, but at present it looks like the plans to maintain strike action is set to continue."

Due to wider media reports of this industrial action, the classroom assistants feel there are misconceptions about what they are actually seeking.

They explained, "We are not asking for any more money, like many think. All we are asking is to retain what we have. We want what we deserve, a fair job evaluation and to recognise the essential duties we carry out as professional, experienced people.According to the classroom assistants, there are four areas of conflict that have forced this action. First, there are plans to reduce the hourly rate which will mean a pay cut for many.

"The pay scale is calculated for 36 hours but we are only permitted to work 32 and a half, so the higher end of the pay scale is unattainable. It has been described as the donkey that can't get the carrot."

There is also plans to remove special school allowances which equates to approximately £1,000 less in the pay packet of the Arvalee employees. The Arvalee classroom assistants also declare that the management is refusing to recognise their qualifications, stating, "It is essential to have the experience and qualifications to even get an interview never mind a job, which is then ignored as we are brought in at an entry level pay scale. It is a kick in the teeth to have paid £1,200 and spent over two years gaining the necessary qualifications then not to have that achievement recognised."

Finally, all the classroom assistants are seeking is more concrete terms and conditions of work to secure their future as they say they never know what will be changed next.

The job title of classroom assistant doesn't fully explain the vital role they have in many aspects of the education system. A fact maybe now realised by those in management when schools are having to close down due to their absence.

"We are not just cleaning paintbrushes like many think. We are classroom based working with the teacher to meet all the children's physical, emotional, intellectual and social needs," they said.

Throughout all these disputes it is clear that this is the last resort action as the last thing the classroom assistants wanted was to disrupt the routines of the children, but they feel they have been driven to this situation after 12 years of being ignored.

"Our requests have been ignored for almost 13 years," said the Arvalee classroom assistants. "We let the management know our intentions to strike on these dates back in June but they have waited to the last minute to make this insulting offer.

"They made no contingency plans for this, calling our bluff. I hope they take us seriously now as the last thing we want is for the children to suffer and we simply cannot afford to be off work as we are not paid while on strike. This is the last straw to hopefully retain what we have and be treated with a bit more respect.

The other staff in the school, parents and the public have been so supportive in our plight and without this encouragement and support it would be impossible to take this drastic action."