NUT SUPPORTS UNISON’S FIGHT FOR SUPPORT STAFF
Commenting on the use of teaching assistants in schools, Christine Blower, Acting General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, Europe’s largest teaching union said;
“Unison are right to highlight the injustice experienced by school support staff. From our own evidence many support staff are being expected to carry out inappropriate work and are paid very little for the unreasonable expectation placed on their shoulders.
“Indeed our own evidence shows that support staff are being used to teach children with the greatest needs and are being used to cover for teaching staff over long periods of time.
“Too often, support staff are considered to be the low cost option. It is quite clear to the NUT that all staff who work in school teams need a proper definition of their responsibilities and proper pay and conditions”.
Fair Pay for Teachers!
Since 2005, teachers have been tied into a 3 year, below inflation pay deal. This means that, in real terms, teachers’ pay has fallen, year on year. In mid January, the government announced that teachers would again be offered a 3 year pay deal starting with 2.45% this year.
As inflation (RPI) is currently over 4%, this will mean all teachers taking a significant pay cut.
On 24th January, the NUT Executive voted unanimously to conduct a national ballot for one day of industrial action to defend teachers pay. Oxfordshire Association is fully supporting this call and urges all members to get involved in the pay campaign to defend our members.
For more information, and to get involved with the campaign please contact us.
Other press releases:
9th June 2008 (.doc format 23 kb)
10th June 2008 (.doc format 24 kb)
13th February 2008 (.doc format 25 kb)