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More talks over classroom dispute Talks hopes as class strike looms
(40 minutes later)
Further talks to avert a one-day strike by classroom assistants on Wednesday are expected to be held later. Further talks to stop a one-day strike by thousands of classroom assistants on Wednesday may take place later.
Emergency negotiations were hastily arranged on Monday, after Education Minister Caitriona Ruane urged unions and employers to resolve the dispute.Emergency negotiations were hastily arranged on Monday, after Education Minister Caitriona Ruane urged unions and employers to resolve the dispute.
In an assembly debate, members voted to demand action on the 12-year dispute. But after 90 minutes, the discussions ended with the unions saying there had been "no progress".
Ms Ruane told assembly members that she sympathised with the schools staff and regretted that negotiations had delayed a settlement for such a long time. There was no reason to call off a strike, they said. More talks with the employers may take place later.
After talks lasting 90 minutes, employers representatives would only say negotiations were ongoing. Patricia McKeown, from Unison, which represents 2,500 classroom assistants, said it was possible that the employers would come back with a reasonable offer.
Proposals "I do seriously think we may find ourselves knocking the door of the minister for education in order to have this finally resolved," she said.
Speaking afterwards, Unison spokeswoman Patricia McKeown said the minister's remarks were the only reason for the meeting taking place. If the strike goes ahead, members of one of the unions involved will not work on Wednesday.
"However, we are not going to accept a tick-box meeting - there should have been some sensible proposals," she said. Some schools may close early and other schools say parents of pupils who need assistance could keep their children at home.
Another three-day strike is planned for October.Another three-day strike is planned for October.
It was not the first time that the assembly has debated the stalemate over the job evaluation of 7,000 classroom assistants.
Jim Shannon of the DUP described it as Groundhog Day, in that they keep discussing it without appearing any closer to agreement.
Mary Bradley of the SDLP said the frustration of the classroom assistants was palpable, especially since some colleagues have passed away since the long negotiations began.