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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 |
| (4 months 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | |
| NI education | NI education |
| Schools | Schools |
| Northern Ireland | Northern Ireland |