Thousands of UNISON members will be taking action short of strike at their workplaces today (Monday 11 May) for a two-week period.
This action follows on from their participation in the one-day public sector strike on 13 March. These workers are campaigning to resist and reverse cuts to the education budget and re-build depleted resources. The action will include:
- sticking to normal start and finish times,
- taking official breaks,
- working only to agreed job description and agreed work allocation.
In addition, classroom assistants will not cover for teachers absent from the classroom. Support staff and classroom assistants will not cover for absent colleagues on long term sick or maternity leave.
The threat of a loss of up to 1,500 jobs in support services has not gone away and support workers are deeply concerned that there will be attempts by education employers to privatise their jobs.
Education workers are deeply frustrated with the year on year delay of NJC pay awards and are calling on the Department to ensure that pay awards are paid on time.
Anne Speed, UNISON’s head of bargaining and representation in Northern Ireland said: “The delivery of a strong education system includes the support services that these workers deliver. Their value cannot be under-estimated or under-valued.”
