Derby teaching assistants have voted by nine to one to reject the latest offer from the council to settle the long-running dispute over their new contracts.
School support staff across the city have now taken seven days of strike action – and three weeks of lunchtime protests – over the council’s decision to cut their wages by up to £6,000 per year in a move to term-time contracts.
UNISON says the city council’s latest offer falls well short of what is needed to settle this dispute, and allow the teaching assistants to return to working normally in the jobs they love, supporting children in the classroom.
UNISON regional secretary Helen Black said: “School support staff have voted hands down to reject the council’s offer.
“It is clear much more needs to be done to resolve this dispute and we plan to carry on talking to try and find a way through.
“It’s high time the council treated its teaching assistants with the respect they deserve.”
Notes to editors:
– Level 2 teaching assistants in Derby were previously paid £21,000 per year but now get £15,000 — a cut of nearly 30%.
– UNISON wants a standard 37-hour week for school support staff, payable all year round.
Media contacts:
– Alex Porter T: 0115 847 5439 M: 07961 475607 E: a.porter@unison.co.uk
– Adrian Morgan T: 0115 847 5464 M: 07939 478418 E: a.morgan@unison.co.uk