This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/7022024.stm

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Classroom strike set to go ahead Classroom strike set to go ahead
(about 7 hours later)
A three-day strike by classroom assistants will go ahead this week, after members of the union Nipsa rejected a new offer by management. A three-day classroom assistants strike will begin on Tuesday, after Nipsa union members rejected a new pay offer.
On Friday, the unions were offered a new deal which included a £15m one-off payment to compensate for a change in the way their salary is calculated. On Friday, the unions were offered a new deal which included a £15m one-off payment to compensate for a change in the way salaries are calculated.
Unions say that could mean £2,500 each, depending on the hours worked. Unions say that could mean £2,500 for each classroom assistant, but Nipsa said that did not go far enough.
However Nipsa members say that does not go far enough and they will strike, as planned, from Tuesday for three days. Education Minister Caitriona Ruane said talks planned for Wednesday should be brought forward.
"They should be getting together and talking until we get this resolved - this is not good enough," she said.
Schools closed
The other main union, Unison, was to have held a ballot on strike action.The other main union, Unison, was to have held a ballot on strike action.
However, after meeting with representatives they have suspended the ballot.However, after meeting with representatives they have suspended the ballot.
During the one-day strike last week most special schools had to close.During the one-day strike last week most special schools had to close.
Mainstream schools remained open, however, they say a longer strike would be much more difficult to cope with. Mainstream schools remained open, but they say it would be much harder to cope with a longer strike.
Nipsa members are also planning "all-out" strike action from 8 October.Nipsa members are also planning "all-out" strike action from 8 October.
The union's Alison Millar said: "We would call on employers now to put a serious offer on the table because the all-out strike can be averted."The union's Alison Millar said: "We would call on employers now to put a serious offer on the table because the all-out strike can be averted."