UNISON campaign for improved pay and conditions for classroom assistants gains local support (cloned)

UNISON is continuing its campaign for improved pay and conditions for classroom assistants, calling for greater recognition of the vital role they play within the education system.

The campaign was highlighted at a recent event organised by the union at the Fir Trees Hotel, Strabane.

UNISON is campaigning to ensure that classroom assistants are properly valued for the essential support they provide to pupils and the wider school community, helping children access learning and thrive in the classroom.

The union is urging decision-makers to recognise the importance of the role and address concerns around pay and working conditions.

In a joint statement following their attendance at the event, local councillors, Brian Harte and Collette McAlister, expressed their support for the campaign.

In a joint statement, they said: "From the panel, classroom assistants and parents of special needs children present, we heard first-hand accounts of just how integral classroom assistants are to the daily lives children in the education system.

“We listened to those classroom assistants who feel totally undervalued and who just want proper pay and conditions, that reflect the roles and responsibilities they perform in their jobs.

"Classroom assistants are the backbone of support in our schools, but this Minister and the Education Authority treat them as an afterthought.

“It is time classroom assistants get the pay and conditions they deserve."

Support for the campaign was also reiterated by party colleague and West Tyrone MLA., Paul Boggs, on the floor of the Assembly when he called on the Minister of Education, Paul Givan, to address the plight of classroom assistants,

“UNISONS ‘Good Work Charter’ breaks down their concerns, frustrations, their everyday experiences and more importantly how they feel they would be best addressed," he said.

“Their asks, in my opinion, are not unreasonable. They want to ensure they have secure, contracted work with fair pay, terms and conditions, they want to feel valued alongside teachers in how vital they are to the classroom, with job descriptions that accurately reflect the work they do, they want professional development and progression aligned to appropriate recognition of their qualifications and experience and they want to be involved in the reform of SEN provision, ensuring their expertise in supporting children is reflected in new ways of delivering SEN support."

He continued: "At last week’s meeting in Strabane, classroom assistants themselves referenced the proposed Enhanced Support Model which could mean in real terms that one-to-one support for pupils could be in jeopardy.

"Their fear and frustration is purely focussed on the loss of support for the young people they work with.

“Quite frankly, it is hard to listen to the people who are the backbone of our education system speak of how undervalued they feel: that their years-long pleas for action haven’t been addressed.

“Our classroom assistants deserve better, the young people they support deserve better, and I will continue to stand with them every step of the way.

"I call on the Minister, the Department for Education and the Education Authority to do likewise.”