Schools to close as Durham teaching assistants take second two-day strike action

More than 100 primary schools across County Durham will be affected tomorrow (Wednesday) and Thursday as teaching assistants strike for a second time in a long-running dispute over cuts to their pay. School support staff plan to protest at dozens of picket lines across the county over the two days. This will mean the closure […]

This school is ready to celebrate – are you?

This week UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis went to Waverley school in Enfield to celebrate the school support staff

On a challenging day, Durham TAs show that there’s so much to fight for

We face huge challenges on so many fronts. At times they can seem insurmountable. But today let’s remember what we stand for. And why we must keep fighting all of those challenges that still lie ahead of us.

‘We will fight and we will win’ Prentis tells Durham strike rally

General secretary pledges support as 1,200 Co Durham teaching assistants rally on second day of strike

National hardship fund for Durham dispute

UNISON has today (Monday) authorised a national hardship fund to ensure that no teaching assistants on strike in Durham suffer financial hardship. The fund, made up of an initial £150,000 will be administered by the union’s northern region. UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: “Today I have personally authorised £150,000 from the union’s industrial action […]

Schools closed as Durham teaching assistants take two-day strike action

Nearly 100 primary schools across County Durham will be affected tomorrow (Tuesday) and Wednesday as teaching assistants strike in a long-running dispute over cuts to their pay. School support staff plan to protest at dozens of picket lines across the county over the two days. This will mean the closure of some schools completely, says […]

Durham teaching assistants to take two days of strike action, announces UNISON

Monday 31 October 2016 For immediate release Teaching assistants in Durham will take strike action on 8 and 9 November in the long-running dispute over cuts to their pay, their union UNISON has announced today (Monday). This follows a ballot over Durham County Council plans to move teaching assistants to term-time pay. This could see […]

Derby council is escalating pay dispute with school support staff ‘pointlessly’, says UNISON

UNISON is accusing Derby City Council of inflaming tensions and escalating a dispute with school support staff who have seen their pay slashed by up to 25%. The staff – who begin their latest two-day strike today (Thursday) – plan to distribute balloons and stickers to parents and children as part of their good-natured community […]

Durham teaching assistants back strike action, announces UNISON

Durham teaching assistants have voted overwhelmingly for strike action in the long-running dispute over cuts to their pay, their union UNISON has announced today (Wednesday). UNISON held a ballot over Durham County Council plans to move teaching assistants to term-time pay. This could see school support staff lose up to 23% of their wages. The […]

Together we can end the injustice of massive pay cuts for those who care for our kids

I will be back in Durham, joining the picket lines on the first day of industrial action and I know the whole of our union will give their support and solidarity to Durham members as they have to members in Derby.

Durham teaching assistants hold rally as strike ballot enters final week

Durham teaching assistants – who have just one week left to vote for strike action in the long-running dispute over cuts to their pay – are to hold a major rally today (Thursday). Durham County Council is proposing to move teaching assistants to term-time pay, and extend the working week without paying for any extra […]

Labour council accused of intimidating UNISON teaching assistants in Durham dispute

Friday 7 October 2016 For immediate release Labour council accused of intimidating UNISON teaching assistants in Durham dispute Teaching assistants who belong to UNISON – currently voting on possible strike action against Durham County Council’s plans to cut their pay by almost a quarter – are facing intimidation tactics from their employer, says their union […]

Head and shoulders photo of Dave Prentis and striking Derby teaching assistants

‘United, we can win’ says Dave Prentis as he joins Derby picket

‘You are the union’ general secretary tells striking teaching assistants in Derby, battling imposed 25% pay cut

Teaching assistants urge public to support their dispute with Derby council

Derby teaching assistants – striking today (Thursday) for the eighth time since the city council cut their pay in June – are taking their campaign into the community to get the public to lobby councillors on their behalf. The classroom assistants have been in dispute with their employer since last September when the council announced […]

Teaching assistants deserve better than being pushed into poverty by a Labour council

We’ll continue to fight for and alongside striking staff in Derby to win them the pay deal they deserve. And I want to see Durham teaching assistants voting for strike action too, so we can show their local council the strength of feeling wherever vital public servants like teaching assistants are mistreated.