UNISON has criticised the recent announcement by the Education Authority “offering” their staff to take two months unpaid leave during the summer.
Anne Speed, UNISON head of bargaining, said: “This offer is one of desperation and has been made with no prior consultation with the trade unions. The current cuts in education have made it impossible for our school services to run effectively.
“To make this ‘offer’ to our low paid members to take two months unpaid leave to try to cover up the huge gaps in the budget is totally unacceptable. Our members rely on their wages during the summer to make ends meet, they do not have the option of taking unpaid leave.
“This clearly demonstrates the fact that the money coming from Westminster is not adequate to run our public services in Northern Ireland.”
