On 17 December 2025, the Education Authority issued a notice to staff informing them of significant changes to the Essential Car Users Allowance Scheme and mileage rates.
These changes will have a detrimental financial impact on thousands of staff. The EA have ceased the payment of the Essential Car Users from January for some staff. Other staff will receive a reduction in the mileage rate they can claim from 1 April.
The current position is:
1. Restricted Consultation: Management introduced new elements in a document which was marked “confidential”, preventing trade unions from sharing it with members for consultation.
2. Refusal to Negotiate: EA Leadership has declined to engage in further discussions with support staff trade unions on any counter proposals.
These actions by the EA undermine fair negotiation and industrial relations and impose detrimental changes to staff terms and conditions of employment.
Support Staff Trade Unions will seek to initiate the mediation process through the Labour Relations Agency (LRA) to seek re-engagement with the EA.
We also intend to move towards a trade dispute with the EA to protect our members’ rights.
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