CLASSROOM ASSISTANTS DISPUTE

antrim | worker & community struggles and protests | press release Thursday November 01, 2007 12:10 by . - CWSC

NIPSA CALLS FOR TRANSPARENCY

The Minister for Education Catroina Ruane has stated publicly that the current offer on the table to settle the Classroom Assistants dispute is valued at £45 million. This is in direct contradiction to the statements by the Education Boards that the offer is valued at £40.2 million.

These opposing statement have caused great confusion amongst parents and staff.

NIPSA is calling for transparency in the job evaluation process and demanding access to the costings for the job evaluation process.

NIPSA General Council member and Classroom Workers Strike Committee member Brian Booth stated

“The Minister for Education has called on all trade unions to consult their members on the current offer to Classroom Assistant. In making this call the Minister has stated that the offer is worth £45 million. It is, therefore, a matter of considerable concern that statements issued by the Education Boards and the documentation issued to trade unions clearly state that the value of the offer is £40.2 million.

Throughout the job evaluation process there has been a history of inconsistencies in management’s approach. At one point management asked the Department of Education to set aside £80 million for the process then the Minister announced £30 million. Subsequently the Education Boards announced £25.2 million. This confusion has led to serious concerns amongst Classroom Assistants. These concerns have been heightened by the history of major financial problems faced by Education Boards over the last number of years.

The Minister must come clean on the real financial situation. Trade unions must be allowed access to the costings for job evaluation for Classroom Assistants and an explanation must be provided for inconsistencies.

Classroom Workers, parents and the general public have a right to know if money that was set aside by the Direct Rule administration for support services in schools has been diverted by the Assembly for other purposes.

If the financial trail leads us to the conclusion that the job evaluation dispute in education has been deliberately manufactured by the Assembly we are facing a very serious situation for everyone in this country”

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