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School strikes: Closures and disruption as non-teaching staff walk out | School strikes: Closures and disruption as non-teaching staff walk out |
(30 days later) | |
Classroom assistants Maria Rogan and Eamon McQuillan at a picket line outside St John the Baptist Primary in west Belfast | Classroom assistants Maria Rogan and Eamon McQuillan at a picket line outside St John the Baptist Primary in west Belfast |
Classroom assistants Maria Rogan and Eamon McQuillan at a picket line outside St John the Baptist Primary in west Belfast | |
Thousands of non-teaching staff have gone on strike from Northern Ireland schools with one classroom assistant saying he has to work three jobs to pay his bills. | Thousands of non-teaching staff have gone on strike from Northern Ireland schools with one classroom assistant saying he has to work three jobs to pay his bills. |
Four of the big unions have called the action in an escalating row over pay. | Four of the big unions have called the action in an escalating row over pay. |
It has led to classroom assistants, bus drivers, catering staff, cleaners and other support workers walking out at hundreds of schools. | It has led to classroom assistants, bus drivers, catering staff, cleaners and other support workers walking out at hundreds of schools. |
A representative from one union said up to 20,000 are expected to take part. | A representative from one union said up to 20,000 are expected to take part. |
The Department of Education (DE) said it could not afford to increase wages on its current budget. | The Department of Education (DE) said it could not afford to increase wages on its current budget. |
Officials said they would need extra funding to do so and were working with the Education Authority (EA) to try to resolve the matter. | Officials said they would need extra funding to do so and were working with the Education Authority (EA) to try to resolve the matter. |
The authority said it expected significant disruption on Thursday, as members of three unions - Unison, United and GMB - walked out for the full day. | The authority said it expected significant disruption on Thursday, as members of three unions - Unison, United and GMB - walked out for the full day. |
Nipsa union members are striking for two hours after the start of their shifts. | Nipsa union members are striking for two hours after the start of their shifts. |
Struggling with bills in Belfast | Struggling with bills in Belfast |
Unison representative Catherine McKenna, caretaker Patrick McKee and cook Anne Taggart at St John the Baptist Primary in Belfast | Unison representative Catherine McKenna, caretaker Patrick McKee and cook Anne Taggart at St John the Baptist Primary in Belfast |
Unison representative Catherine McKenna, caretaker Patrick McKee and cook Anne Taggart at St John the Baptist Primary in Belfast | |
At St John the Baptist Primary in west Belfast, classroom assistants Eamon McQuillan and Maria Rogan have been taking part in the strike. | At St John the Baptist Primary in west Belfast, classroom assistants Eamon McQuillan and Maria Rogan have been taking part in the strike. |
Mr McQuillan said he is working two other jobs, one in a youth club and the other at the SSE Arena in Belfast, in order to pay his bills. | Mr McQuillan said he is working two other jobs, one in a youth club and the other at the SSE Arena in Belfast, in order to pay his bills. |
He said he needs this extra income to pay for "day-to-day costs" such as helping his parents with bills, paying his for his mobile phone and food. | He said he needs this extra income to pay for "day-to-day costs" such as helping his parents with bills, paying his for his mobile phone and food. |
"That's why we are out here, on strike, looking for better pay," he said. | "That's why we are out here, on strike, looking for better pay," he said. |
"We are also out here because a school doesn't run without a classroom assistant, a child's education doesn't run without a classroom assistant, especially in terms of one-to-one." | "We are also out here because a school doesn't run without a classroom assistant, a child's education doesn't run without a classroom assistant, especially in terms of one-to-one." |
Meanwhile, Ms Rogan said she was taking the action as she felt she deserved better pay for the work she did. | Meanwhile, Ms Rogan said she was taking the action as she felt she deserved better pay for the work she did. |
"They need the help and support from us, if we weren't here they wouldn't have it," she said. | "They need the help and support from us, if we weren't here they wouldn't have it," she said. |
"For them to get the education, we need to be there, to see them succeed in different areas just means the work pays off." | "For them to get the education, we need to be there, to see them succeed in different areas just means the work pays off." |
Parent Lynsey O'Donnell, who has two children who receive support at St John the Baptist, said she fully supports the strike. | Parent Lynsey O'Donnell, who has two children who receive support at St John the Baptist, said she fully supports the strike. |
Lynsey O'Donnell has two children who receive the support of classroom assistants at St John the Baptist Primary | Lynsey O'Donnell has two children who receive the support of classroom assistants at St John the Baptist Primary |
Lynsey O'Donnell has two children who receive the support of classroom assistants at St John the Baptist Primary | |
Ms O'Donnell praised the work of the assistants, who she said were vital in keeping her children in school. | Ms O'Donnell praised the work of the assistants, who she said were vital in keeping her children in school. |
"I had one child in particular that last year was a real, real struggle. We couldn't get him to school, he couldn't stay at school, he was on a reduced timetable," she said. | "I had one child in particular that last year was a real, real struggle. We couldn't get him to school, he couldn't stay at school, he was on a reduced timetable," she said. |
"He was out of school more than he was in school but this year he has an assistant and he has been in school every single day." | "He was out of school more than he was in school but this year he has an assistant and he has been in school every single day." |
St John the Baptist's principal Chris Donnelly said those in the school community were appreciative of non-teaching staff and "fully behind" the action they have taken. | St John the Baptist's principal Chris Donnelly said those in the school community were appreciative of non-teaching staff and "fully behind" the action they have taken. |
"We cannot deliver on our mission of educating all children, in developing them academically, socially, emotionally and physically without classroom assistants and without our non-teaching staff," he added. | "We cannot deliver on our mission of educating all children, in developing them academically, socially, emotionally and physically without classroom assistants and without our non-teaching staff," he added. |
Anne Taggart, a cook at Holy Child Primary School in west Belfast, said her wage has not changed in 21 years in the job. | Anne Taggart, a cook at Holy Child Primary School in west Belfast, said her wage has not changed in 21 years in the job. |
She said the cost-of-living crisis was impacting her "ten-fold" and it has got to the situation of "eat or heat". | She said the cost-of-living crisis was impacting her "ten-fold" and it has got to the situation of "eat or heat". |
Ms Taggart added that cooks and catering assistants are leaving in their droves as they "cannot afford to exist". | Ms Taggart added that cooks and catering assistants are leaving in their droves as they "cannot afford to exist". |
Striking out of necessity in Derry | Striking out of necessity in Derry |
Teaching assistant Sharon Thompson says they need to be paid proper wages for what they do | Teaching assistant Sharon Thompson says they need to be paid proper wages for what they do |
Teaching assistant Sharon Thompson says they need to be paid proper wages for what they do | |
In Londonderry, staff members outside Ardnashee Special School and College said they felt they had no choice but to strike. | In Londonderry, staff members outside Ardnashee Special School and College said they felt they had no choice but to strike. |
Sharon Thompson, a classroom assistant, said: "We love and idolise these children and we want to be in work today but we have no option but to take a stand for the greater good." | Sharon Thompson, a classroom assistant, said: "We love and idolise these children and we want to be in work today but we have no option but to take a stand for the greater good." |
Fellow classroom assistant Kyle Doherty said they needed to be recognised for the work they do with children who have very complex needs. | Fellow classroom assistant Kyle Doherty said they needed to be recognised for the work they do with children who have very complex needs. |
"I'm here because the job, role and responsibilities that we fulfil everyday are not reflected in our wages," he said. | "I'm here because the job, role and responsibilities that we fulfil everyday are not reflected in our wages," he said. |
"We don't want to be here but we feel we have no choice and we need to make a point. People don't actually realise what we do. The demands of the job have changed so much at times you feel like you have to be a teacher, carer and a nurse." | "We don't want to be here but we feel we have no choice and we need to make a point. People don't actually realise what we do. The demands of the job have changed so much at times you feel like you have to be a teacher, carer and a nurse." |
Kyle Doherty said staff feel they have no choice but to strike | Kyle Doherty said staff feel they have no choice but to strike |
Kyle Doherty said staff feel they have no choice but to strike | |
Raymond McFeeters, the principal at Ardnashee, said his staff have the school's support. | Raymond McFeeters, the principal at Ardnashee, said his staff have the school's support. |
He said classroom assistants did "an amazing job" but had been made to feel "undervalued". | He said classroom assistants did "an amazing job" but had been made to feel "undervalued". |
Despite the responsibility and often complex work their job entails, many are paid little more than minimum wage, he added. | Despite the responsibility and often complex work their job entails, many are paid little more than minimum wage, he added. |
"One of the big problems is they can earn more money by going to other jobs with much less responsibility and which are much less challenging," he said. | "One of the big problems is they can earn more money by going to other jobs with much less responsibility and which are much less challenging," he said. |
"If we don't support our staff in taking this action, we may lose a lot of staff and then we won't be able to function at all." | "If we don't support our staff in taking this action, we may lose a lot of staff and then we won't be able to function at all." |
Public support in Enniskillen | Public support in Enniskillen |
Senior clerical officer Stephanie Hamilton said staff just want fair pay | Senior clerical officer Stephanie Hamilton said staff just want fair pay |
Senior clerical officer Stephanie Hamilton said staff just want fair pay | |
At Holy Trinity Primary School in Enniskillen, senior clerical officer Stephanie Hamilton said a pay rise was long overdue. | At Holy Trinity Primary School in Enniskillen, senior clerical officer Stephanie Hamilton said a pay rise was long overdue. |
"We all work very hard, we love our jobs but we're finding it more and more difficult in a cost-of-living crisis to survive," she said. | "We all work very hard, we love our jobs but we're finding it more and more difficult in a cost-of-living crisis to survive," she said. |
"So we just want fair pay and to be treated well, and the regrading is really important to us." | "So we just want fair pay and to be treated well, and the regrading is really important to us." |
Ms Hamilton said she has been encouraged by the support from teaching staff, parents and the public. | Ms Hamilton said she has been encouraged by the support from teaching staff, parents and the public. |
"Today we can tell that by standing on the side of the road, them tooting their horns and waving, you can hear them now," she said. | "Today we can tell that by standing on the side of the road, them tooting their horns and waving, you can hear them now," she said. |
"We hope that it works. We've got to do something and we hope that we get the support that we deserve." | "We hope that it works. We've got to do something and we hope that we get the support that we deserve." |
We've no choice, say teachers as NI schools close | We've no choice, say teachers as NI schools close |
We've no choice, say teachers as NI schools close | |
Stormont's education budget under severe pressure | |
Stormont's education budget under severe pressure | Stormont's education budget under severe pressure |
The Department of Education said a pay proposal put forward by the Education Authority and trade unions would have a significant cost. | The Department of Education said a pay proposal put forward by the Education Authority and trade unions would have a significant cost. |
The initial annual implementation cost for the EA would be £39m, with the subsequent recurring cost rising to £71m after three years, according to the department. | The initial annual implementation cost for the EA would be £39m, with the subsequent recurring cost rising to £71m after three years, according to the department. |
"However, there is currently no budget available to implement this without further funding being made available." | "However, there is currently no budget available to implement this without further funding being made available." |
Related Topics | Related Topics |
NI education | NI education |
Schools | Schools |
Northern Ireland | Northern Ireland |