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Classroom strike may be suspended Union suspends classroom strike
(about 9 hours later)
The trade union which is representing classroom assistants on strike will consult its members on suspending industrial action this week. Classroom assistants belonging to the Nipsa union have voted to return to work, while negotiations on their dispute continue.
After weekend talks at the Labour Relations Agency, employers have agreed to further negotiations to discuss pay and conditions. A majority vote was cast in 10 meetings held around Northern Ireland.
However, Nipsa and the other unions involved say the core issues causing the strike remain unresolved. It is understood some members of the union were reluctant to trust the management side's willingness to properly negotiate a better deal.
Education Minister Caitriona Ruane said she was pleased with the development. However, on Monday the majority voted in favour of suspending the strike action until the end of October.
"I would like to thank the four unions and the education and library board," she said. About 3,000 members of Nipsa have been taking part in the dispute over pay and job re-grading.
"I am delighted with this news, it gives a bit of breathing space to get the remaining issues resolved." A full weekend of meetings at the Labour Relations Agency ended with no resolution of the contentious issues.
NIPSA General Secretary John Corey said it was an important step forward for the NIPSA members who have been on strike for nine days. Monday was the tenth day of the classroom assistants' action.
"The employers have now accepted the need to enter negotiations on the key issues that caused this dispute and have also affirmed that the current terms and conditions of employment of classroom assistants cannot be unilaterally varied," he said. Nipsa and the other unions involved say the core issues causing the strike remain unresolved.
"The employers have now accepted the need to enter negotiations on the key issues that caused this dispute and have also affirmed that the current terms and conditions of employment of classroom assistants cannot be unilaterally varied," Nipsa general secretary John Corey said.
"However, we are still only at the start of the negotiating process to achieve an agreement that will be acceptable to all classroom assistants.""However, we are still only at the start of the negotiating process to achieve an agreement that will be acceptable to all classroom assistants."
A total of 27 special schools are closed because of an indefinite strike by Nipsa affiliated staff which began last Monday.
About 3,000 members of Nipsa are staging an indefinite strike over pay and job re-grading.