The Joint Negotiating Trade Union Side consists of NIPSA, UNISON, GMB and UNITE representing over 20,000 Support Staff employed across the entire Education Sector, are to hold a protest on Wednesday 25th October at the offices of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Erskine House, Belfast.
Alan Law, Assistant Secretary, NIPSA added:
“NIPSA members have voted in their thousands demanding that the delays in progressing the Pay and Grading review, Job Evaluation, and resolving pay differentials are addressed immediately. It is economic folly to continue to pay Education Authority staff on wages which are just not fit for purpose. We need a reformed and dynamic pay structure that will attract and retain staff. The Secretary of State must ensure that the Department of Education budget is structured to address our concerns. The Education Authority must be given the resources required to deliver an effective education service.”
Anne Speed, Head of Bargaining and Representation, UNISON commented:
“UNISON members in every part of the EAs support service workforce are determined to secure funding to improve how they are paid. There are a number of adjustments that must be made to their pay structure which can deliver pay improvement. Sitting on the fence by the EA or Department of Education is not something UNISON members will accept. This challenge and our industrial action campaign will continue.”
Alan Perry Senior Organiser, GMB added:
“In the worst cost of living crisis, workers deserve decent pay. Cleaners, cooks and classroom assistants along with all non-teaching roles do vital work for our children's education. They shouldn't be left wondering how they're going to pay their bills. The Education Authority needs to sort this as a matter of urgency."
Kieran Ellison, Regional Officer, UNITE the Union added:
“The Dept. Of Education’s strategy of prevarication and elongation has gone on too long and has angered members who do a difficult job in a caring, professional and compassionate manner on a daily basis.
The Department need to stop using our members as political pawns in the Stormont debacle and instead pay them something they can live on in order to mitigate the exodus of staff leaving.”