Photo-Report from NIPSA Classroom Assistant Strike March and Rally

by eirigi Wed Sep 26, 2007 20:08

Classroom Assistants Strike For Their Rights
25/09/07

Public service workers across the Six Counties are to strike this week in an attempt to resolve a long running pay dispute. On Wednesday (September 26), around 2,500 NIPSA trade union members working as classroom assistants will be taking approved action – a move backed by 93 per cent of those balloted. The dispute centres on the contractual rights of the notoriously low paid assistants to have their posts evaluated in a manner which would confirm their entitlement to back pay dated from 1995. Their employers, in the form of the five Education and Library Boards based in the Six Counties, have sought to alter the assistants’ contracts in the face of British government financial cutbacks.

The ELB tampering will have a very practical and detrimental impact for all classroom assistants.
For example, a full-time classroom assistant works a 32.5-hour-week in line with school opening hours. Hourly rates of pay are based on that working week. But in an attempt to cut back-pay and future payment, the employers are insisting that rates of pay should be based on a notional 36-hour-week. This would reduce rates of pay by more than £1 (1.43 euro) per hour.

NIPSA have been involved in prolonged negotiations with the Six County Department of Education in relation to the proposed attack on wages but have, so far, made no meaningful headway.
Janette Murdock, a classroom assistant at Tor Bank Special School in Dundonald, county Down responded to claims from a Department of Education spokesperson that the strike would disrupt the education of children. “If this isn't sorted out the children's education will suffer more. Experienced and qualified staff will be forced to leave the job," she said.

"The boards will have downgraded the jobs so much that they will have created an inexperienced, high-turnover workforce - that will affect children more in the long-term!"

éirigí chairperson, Brian Leeson, expressed strong support for the strike.
“Classroom assistants in the Six Counties, and everywhere else, provide an invaluable public service to our children and the wider community. All they are asking in return is for a decent income. However, this strike isn’t solely about a just level of pay. Classroom assistants are striking to ensure that, in future, all children – especially those with special needs – will have the best possible educational opportunities.”

“The employers’ attempts to cut the pay and rights of these workers damages the interests of children and, eventually, it will force dedicated and experienced staff to look elsewhere for better pay and conditions.”

Brian concluded: “In the run up to the restoration of the Stormont institutions, politicians of from several parties proclaimed that devolution would serve the interests of ‘ordinary people’ in the Six Counties. Clearly, classroom assistants were one group of ‘ordinary people’ whose interests were excluded from their considerations.”

If Wednesday’s strike is unsuccessful in securing the rights of classroom assistants, further action will take place on October 2, 3 and 4, with all out strike action commencing on Monday, October 8 if no resolution is reached.

NIPSA’s strike committee have called a public march and rally on Wednesday September 26 to coincide with the day’s action.

People should assemble at Belfast’s Writers’ Square in Donegall Street at 12.30pm for a march to Custom House Square.

Show your support!

by Ciarán Ó Brolcháin Wed Sep 26, 2007 22:21 ciaranobrolchain at hotmail dot com

It was a great site today to see hundreds upon hundreds of women, and a few men too, marching through the streets of Belfast. The level of support for this strike was evident from the positive reaction from other workers and people in the town as the march passed by.

by Ciarán Ó Brolcháin Wed Sep 26, 2007 22:24 ciaranobrolchain at hotmail dot com

A few more.

Fist in the air

by Trade Unionist - SP Thu Sep 27, 2007 15:52

SHAME ON YOU MINISTER

SUPPORT THE CLASSROOM ASSISTANTS

The overwhelming support classroom assistants have received from parents and the public at large not only underlines the just nature of classroom assistants pay claim but is also a damning denunciation of the Assembly Executive.

Assembly votes against pay claim
The shameful role the Minister for Education Catriona Ruane has played has been recognised by all workers. Her pretence that she sympathises with classroom assistants has been exposed as utter hypocrisy because of her imposition earlier this summer of what in effect is a pay cut in classroom assistants pay and attacks on working conditions. In fact all the political parties in the Assembly Executive yesterday voted against paying the classroom assistants. This is not surprising from politicians who also sat on local education and library boards which implemented pay cuts over 12 years!

Combined with soaring prices, classroom assistants have been left with no alternative but to fight back by taking strike action. Classroom assistants have had enough. Empty promises don't pay the bills. By taking strike action and building support amongst the rest of education workers and in the community, classroom assistants can force the Assembly Executive to back down. Already there are signs that today's strike action has forced the employers and the Minister to consider making some concessions. However, they are determined not to give in. If no serious offer is made which can be put to classroom assistants, then next weeks planned three day strike must proceed.

Solidarity must be built
Classroom assistants in the other unions (UNISON, GMB and T&GWU/Unite) now need to demand that their leaderships immediately begin to organise solidarity action and join their colleagues on the picket lines. It is unfortunate that the leadership of these unions have failed to co-ordinate strike action with NIPSA classroom assistants. In fact, UNISON classroom assistant members should demand to know why their 'leadership' actually accepted the pay 'offer' from Catriona Ruane back in June!

If all other education workers, teaching and non-teaching staff, were to take solidarity action it would put significant pressure on the Assembly to back down. Meetings between classroom assistants and all other staff in schools should now be called to discuss how to organise solidarity action. This should also be done in the community, involving parents and students who can also put pressure on the politicians.

For united public sector action
The plight of classroom assistants is not entirely isolated. Across the public sector, workers are being faced with below-inflation pay 'rises' from Maggie Thatcher's No. 1 fan Gordon Brown. But workers are resisting these pay cuts. Postal workers have been forced into taking another two 48 hour strikes next week followed by weeks of rolling action. Civil service and health workers are also being balloted to take industrial action. The Socialist Party is campaigning for the unions to call a united one-day public sector strike to maximise the opposition to attacks on workers pay and conditions.

A working class party is also needed
Working class people however also need a voice which can represent them politically. None of the parties in the Assembly represent the common interests of working class people. The Executive is implementing a vicious programme of neo-liberal right-wing policies of privatisation, cuts and job losses.
The Socialist Party believes a party which organises workers and young people to fight attacks from the Assembly and challenges them with a socialist alternative is desperately needed. If you agree with our ideas, then join the Socialist Party today.

by Sinead Murray Thu Sep 27, 2007 20:10

just wanted to say that my mummy is a hard working woman and deserves fair pay its not fair that she and her fellow collegues are doing all the work and not getting the gratatude i support all the classroom assistants im 18 and i no myself that it is not fair so come on catrina when will there day come as u say tiocfiadh ar la

by solidarity seeker Fri Sep 28, 2007 09:48

I have previously writen about the forlorn hope that Trade Unions may show a modicom of solidarity (At least in public) to advance workers terms conditions and futures. But todays public announcement from the GMB makes me wonder if there's a real Trade Unionist among them and what these people trying to achieve!!!
The GMB came out today on the side of management in the classroom assistant dispute. They added their misguided and "A**e-licking voices to managements claim that classroom assistants should be paid on a 36 hour divider. Why should classroom assistants suffer a detriment in their terms and conditions because in the past GMB have failed their own members and not protected their's? Any decent Trade Union with their members interests as a priority would support the classroom assistants 100% and then fight for the parity for their own members, not try and drive everything down to the lowest common denominator!! This obviously causes GMB a problem, they might have to actually DO some real Trade Union work, instead of the easier option of falling in behind management and letting them do the dirty work for them. I would say would the last Trade Unionist out of the GMB office turn out the light, but that would imply that there is any still in there. Shame on you GMB

by T Fri Sep 28, 2007 10:47

It is quite clear that the Unions in all countries have long ago been co-opted by the State and business to act on their behalf. This is something that was obviously worked out many decades ago as to how to turn an organisation which was the main strength of working people into an institution that could just as effectively be turned against them. And as we have seen over the years there must have been a cross the board campaign to address this 'problem' at many levels. The most visible of these, is the raft of legislation that was brought in, especially in the UK, but also here and elsewhere to limit the activities of Unions.

We also know for example during the miners strike in the UK that the Unions were quite heavily infiltrated with moles and informants which allowed the State and big capital to know exactly what was going on, what was happening next and thereby out manoeuvre any action by the workers. In many ways this modus operandi is quite similar to the way that the British intelligence agencies were totally and utterly deeply involved and aware in terms of agents of almost every activity during the Northern Ireland troubles and this gave them tremendous power to influence and guide events.

Often these ideas are rejected especially be people on the Left, but yet the central thesis of the Left is the idea of the Class War and that the State and Capital collude to work against and exploit the workers. We know all forms of military activity involve these type of activities. That is a given and no-one questions that. And yet the Left still clings to the idea that somehow these techniques and they are only techniques, are not used in the political realm.

So the question arises why should anyone think these organisations are somehow asleep or misguided? No, the arm of the State and big capital -i.e. those who have access and control of practically all resources in a given State have spread their tentacles through the system in the same way that a mold or fungus might totally penetrate a wall or tree trunk.

And it lastly raises the prospect too that the natural instinct is to build up yet another new independent union free of the current co-opted ones. But unless rigorous thought goes in to designing them to resist this co-opting, then they in turn will surely go the same way.

by Scrabo Tower Fri Sep 28, 2007 23:00

Listened today to the GMB could not believe my ears. I thought Unisons position was deplorable until I heard this lick spittle. I would urge all classroom assistants to join NIPSA and fight not only the employers but the mainland unions and there dream of a knighthood. Three key issues lets get justice and not a few bob pay off.

by solidarity seeker Fri Sep 28, 2007 23:02

Lily Kerr of UNISON asked today what agenda did GMB have driving their "despicable" intervention in the classroom assistants dispute. I'd like to ask what planet their spokesperson mr Key was on?
I couldn't believe my eye and ears when I saw the GMB on tv tonight smuggly taking credit for moving the classroom assistant's dispute to a "Succesfull" conclusion.
Point (1) for the GMB to understand, he doesn't decide where when and on what terms this dispute ends, it is only the classroom assistants to do that.
(2) This offer the merits of which I'm not discusing here,(That is for the CA's to do) This offer only came about because of the marvelous action taken by the NIPSA classroom assistants on wed 26th october. Without that and the serious threat of more of the same, then NO new offer would of been forthcoming. This makes the GMB's treacherous management serving statements even the more ridiculous.
The actions of the GMB aleady described by another major union as despicable, really have gone a step too far. It is time for all decent trade unionist, those who know what it is to be a trade unionist, and what basic principals trade unionists should follow, to start asking serious questions via their own union leaderships about future dealings with or cooperation with this so called Trade union.
With so many attacks coming down on workers from all sides this is a time when trade union unity is vital, the GMB have shown themselves in their true colours.

by D Mon Oct 01, 2007 16:43

Was at the march - well done to the Classroom assistants and NIPSA, stand your ground - u have much support

In Solidarity -
-D

by Raza Thu Oct 04, 2007 12:56

I worked as a classroom assistant for 8 months when i came out of university in an integrated school. It is an incredably tough job, with little thanks or praise. Teachers will treat them like the enemy and look down on them, pupils pick up on this and in turn treat them like dirt. This issue of their re-evaulation has been on going for so long its beyond a joke. The education department have only their selves to blame and i think its time they faced up to their responsibility and did right by their staff. I think its disgusting and a complete disservice to their staff to have kept this going for so long. I only wish there was more that could be done to support them.

by c Fri Oct 05, 2007 15:38

i think that the strike action is justified,due to the apalling pay the classroom assistants get.however,that said, does catriona whatserface realise the devasting effect this has on both families of the workers,AND the parents of the children affected?both of my children suffer from a progressive condition,and the only break we get as a family,is when they are at school.to be blunt and to the point,we are all tax payers,and perhaps too naive to actually believe that our hard earned money is being poured into education in the belief that our children will get a decent education.i would bet my bottom dollar that the politicians on the committee that make these pathetic decisions over pay,arent affected by the strike action.would decisions be different if they were affected?perhaps if they were forced to live on a classroom assistants salary,they may realise how utterly snobbish they are being.there are little enough facilities in this country for special needs children,so therefore,the education that IS available for ALL children,should be consistent,uninterrupted,and not confined to what politicians believe is an adequate amount to live on.perhaps all the tea and coffee they drink at supposed board meetings,have addled their brains,while thinking about how many more pay cuts they can enforce,to line their own pockets.disgusting,and as ever,the children suffer.with much support,NIPSA,hope you get a result soon.

by socialist Mon Oct 08, 2007 23:59

NIPSA classroom assistants are now on an indefinite strike. Sinn Fein continue to play lipservice to the idea that they are a working class party in the South but in the North they are showing their true neo-liberal colours in relation to this strike.
Northern Ireland Education Minister Caitriona Ruane (Sinn Fein MLA) said today, "I would call on those engaged in industrial action to desist from any action that places the burden of the disagreement onto those children and families who most need help."
These words could just as easily have been uttered by a Tory, a PD, a Fianna Failer or a New Labourite!

by joe strummer Tue Oct 09, 2007 13:04

over the summer unlike other people working in the education field.
Parents I would have thought would desire better conditions for those people who care for and educate their children

by Classroom Assistant Lisburn Tue Oct 09, 2007 23:45

People seem to be using the figure of £14k a year as the wage of the everyday classroom assistant. I have to work 4 different jobs at my school from 8.30am to 6pm to earn under that, with of course no money in July and August. As a single income household a cut in my pay now would be devastating, risking all that I have worked for in the last 9 years.

by jean - mother Wed Oct 10, 2007 15:05

I am a mother of two children with special needs, and in total support of classroom assistants who are on strike. It's about time these invaluable people were given a fair deal for a dedicated and far from easy job. I wonder if the Education Minister would be happy if she had not had a fair pay for the last 12years? Hmm! I think 'Not'. Has she ever been in a special needs school, and seen the dedication these people give to our vunerable children? I don't know the answer to that one either! What I do know is both my children are suffering through 'Penny Pinching' in Education, and the Minitser should be held accountable for the damage she is causing them!

by teacher Wed Oct 10, 2007 21:52

Nipsa classroom assistants are bearing the backlash of their strike action, having immediately balloted their members on their "improved" offer. We are still waiting for the other 3 unions to ballot their members so that this dispute can move forward. Until this has been done the education boards will not negotiate any further. Why does this take a week? Schools are closed, children and families are suffering and they can't be bothered to act. Shame on you Unison, GTW and T&GWU. Sort it out!

by Triston - 15 years old Thu Oct 11, 2007 14:13

Classroom assisstants have been fighting for fair treatment and pay for years. Give them what they need to support themselves and their familys!!!!!!!!!!!

by J - a concerned citizen Thu Oct 11, 2007 23:27

I would like to personnally thank the bus drivers and teachers and principals who have supported the classroom assistants through this dispute so far. I would like to ask the minister are you willing to start talking to the TUS or are you going to continue to use these special children as pawns in your game. We can all see which side are trying to protect these children and the answer to that is NOT the education boards.

by Jacqui - Classroom Assistant Fri Oct 12, 2007 20:19

I am a Classroom Assistant in a Special Needs School and I must say that I am deeply saddened by the way in which we are being represented by the combined Media and Employers.
I love doing my job and on a daily basis I am lucky enough to interact with the most wonderful, lovable, witty, funny, and SPECIAL children. If only people could see life through the eyes of these physically and mentally disabled children and be able to face every day head-on with a similar positive and humbling attitude, then who knows what could be achieved in other areas of life!! I realise that you often faceless news editors, politicians, 'suits', photographers, cameramen.(... I could go on) all have your job to do but I hope that you can sleep at night !! Shame on you all for your lies, your negativity, your lack of support, your lack of humanity and great lack of compassion for our children's needs. And as for the Education Boards to try and remove the need for any professional NVQ qualification to do my job - HOW DARE YOU!!! It cost me £1000 and took 2 years of hard work and commitment, while raising my own family to achieve this and let me say, without which I was REFUSED any interviews for Classroom Assistant posts in the Belfast board!!! SHAME!!!
I am sincerely proud of all my fellow classroom assistants and count myself very fortunate to have met some remarkable friends and colleagues who have helped me enormously and without whom I would be lost. I hope that I will be able to be back in the classroom VERY soon but the issues we are fighting for really matter and so our fight will continue until people recognise that what we do, we do because we care about each and every child in our schools and because we make a difference in their lives as they do in ours.
For those who have supported us and continue to do so....THANK YOU SO MUCH xxxxx

by Joyce. Sun Oct 14, 2007 21:03

I want to add my support to the class room assistants in nothern Ireland. I am from the south and I am a special needs assistant in special education. We too are fighting to have our qualifications recognised and get a pay scale equilivant to that . So keep up the good fight don't back down and best of luck. We all offer an invaluable service and have an abudance of experience and it is about time that the departments of education recognises us as the professionals that we are and pay us accordingly.

by solidarity seeker Thu Nov 15, 2007 14:56

Instead of showing solidarity, T&G decide to play games.
I know we are only talking about very small numbers of classroom assistants in the T&G. At least the union asked them their opinion of the "Great offer" put to all the CA's. They came out with a small majority for rejecting the offer. The T&G then decided to forget little details like democracy, (Such an inconvenient thing) and NOT call their members out. They still keep their own options open by having not accepted the offer they can come back to the table if NIPSA's strike action does force a better offer, to benifit from others sacrifice and hard work. the very least they can do is have a public position that they reject the offer so Ms Ruane can't keep banging the drum about the "Other three Unions think this is a good deal".

by RogerC Fri Nov 16, 2007 09:12

Did anyone notice on "Hearts and minds" last night the minister of Education totally ignor the fact that TWO unions have now rejected the offer put by management. Her point quite clearly was if a union rejects the offer she doesn't care as long as they are not going to take indusrial action. I hope the T&G have noted this also. Hopefully when UNISON when they get around to announcing the result of their ballot (If it is also rejection) they will realise what it will take to get the ministers attention.

by pól Wed Nov 21, 2007 12:44

I am a socialist and a Sinn Féin supporter. It's so sad that many of our comrades in Nipsa are blind to the manipulation of this issue (and their leadership) by SWP in order to try and discredit Caitríona Ruane, who inherited this disgraceful legacy of direct rule ministers and has in her brief time as Minister for Education tried her best to secure a better offer for classroom assistants. This is too serious an issue to let sinister forces use it in a political battle whose end result will be the discrediting not of an executive minister but of the very legitimate tool of strike action itself. To the classroom assistants I say good luck, we support you 100%, but don't take your eye off the ball.

by Jolly Red Giant - SP/CWI Wed Nov 21, 2007 13:15

that post is the biggest laugh that has been on here in a while. Ruane has done her best to denigrate the classroom assistants and leading SF people demonstrated their contempt for the striking workers during the protest outside the SF headoffice in West Belfast last week.

And by the way the SWP aren't involved in this dispute in any way.

by SWP member - SWP Wed Nov 21, 2007 15:57

Can you not make your point about SF and the classroom assistants strike without a pointless and inaccurate jibe at the SWP? Members of the SWP have been on the picket lines and marched and leafleted in support of the strike. We don't claim any great credit for this. It's the simple duty of all socialists. Members of the Socialist Party have been active, and fair play to them. Members of the CPI have also been out. Probably there have been members of other Left groups too that I havn't seen. We should all be concentrating fire on those like SF who have been attacking the strikers and on the boards and the whole Executive who are behind the boards. What is the purpose of using a thread like this to take stupid pot-shots at other socialists? For fuck's sake, catch yourself on.

by Big Mac Wed Nov 21, 2007 16:53

Well, there you have it. Maggie Thatcher Ruane is merely pointing out what we can expect should $inn Fein get into a position of real power in their so called 32 County Socialist Republic or should that be 32 County Free State?

by Mark P - Socialist Party (personal capacity) Wed Nov 21, 2007 18:31

SWP Member:

Jolly Red Giant's point was not that the SWP haven't been to some picket lines. It would be a surprise if you hadn't. It was a response to the Sinn Fein supporter above claiming that Ruane was somehow on the side of the people she is screwing over and that the classroom assistants had somehow been mislead by the SWP. It is perfectly accurate to say that no SWP members are involved in the strike and that the SWP does not have any political influence over the strike, the strikers or the union.

by KD Wed Nov 21, 2007 19:47

Those who voted for SF have only themselves to blame. At least the people in the South were a lot wiser to the shinners.

by B Murphy Wed Nov 21, 2007 20:36

I remember the 'Good Old Days' when Sinn fein would have been organising people to be seen on the picket lines. Photo opportunities I think they were called.

by SWP Member - SWP Thu Nov 22, 2007 11:13

I am not going to get into any long exchange on this. One SP member said that the SWP had not involved itself in the classroom asistants strike "in any way". When it' s pointed out that this is just untrue, another says that SWP members have been on the picket lines and says that it would have been surprising if they hadn't. But then shifts the argument to saying that the SWP isn't wielding political influence on the strike or the union. Nobody ever claimed this. In Newry and Armagh, which I know about, the people influencing the strike and the union are the strikers. SWP members have been on picket lines and attended marches and rallies, distributed leaflets etc, and sold copies of SW arguing for full support. Maybe all this has had little effect. But in my experience the SWP's modest intervention has been well received by the strikers. I would only ask people to look at this toing and froing and draw a conclusion as to whether the two SP members have the priority of getting the widest possibly support for the strikers or whether they are more anxious to get in jibes against other socialists. The last thing I will say is to repeat to the comrades that they should catch themselves on. They can have the floor to themselves now.

by Mark P Thu Nov 22, 2007 13:51

It is ridiculous to suggest that taking thirty seconds to accurately describe the SWP's role (or lack of role) in the strike in any way stops anyone from spending their energies on building support for the strike. Particularly in a context where a Sinn Fein member is using a lie that the SWP have some influence on the strike to discredit the strikers and to shield his own party's role from criticism.

It is important to answer such attacks and to answer them accurately. Jolly Red Giant was too sweeping in what he said and when you took offence, I posted to clarify his comments. The point was not that the SWP had ignored the strike or hadn't visited pickets or whatever. It was that, contrary to the myths being spread by our Provo friend, the SWP has no influence on the strike, the strikers or the union. Given that my statement is accurate, as you yourself implicitly acknowledge, there is no reason for you to act so wounded.

by 7 of 9 Thu Nov 22, 2007 14:37

"I posted to clarify his comments."

He couldn't do this himself?

by 'D Thu Nov 22, 2007 16:03

Full support and Solidarity needs to be forthcoming for the classroom assistants at this important time -

And a wee plug - I am almost finished the last part of the Indymedia Series I was doing {and is quite extensive} - which includes NIPSA within it

So for those interested - I am going to try to get it put up - on the -30th - of this month.

In Solidarity - 'D

by Jolly Red Giant - SP/CWI Thu Nov 22, 2007 21:07

of unimatrix SWP - Mark P had done it for me. I don't spend all day sitting at a computer waiting on the obviously wounded soul from the SWP to expess his/her hurt. I have better things to be doing - like building support for the classroom assistants strike.

by 7 of 9 Fri Nov 23, 2007 10:38

"I have better things to be doing - like building support for the classroom assistants strike."

Well I suppose we can't all be SP full timers, you not being from the north and all that.

by Jolly Red Giant - SP/CWI Fri Nov 23, 2007 17:25

7 of 9 - you really should figure out when it is a good idea to stop digging.

by 7 of 9 Fri Nov 23, 2007 22:52

I'm sorry JRG I'm a bit confused. What am I wrong about? It must be the full timer bit as I know from the archives that you're not from the north (see below).
If you're not a full timer and not from the north, how exactly are you building support for the classroom assistants strike? Perhaps Mark P can come in and clarify for you?

Jolly Red Giant - Socialist Party/CWI Sat Jul 21, 2007 15:49
Not being from the North - I don't know all the ins and outs of what happens in NIPSA. My understanding is that activists on secondment are receiving their normal wages and not an increased salary.

by Jolly Red Giant - SP/CWI Sat Nov 24, 2007 11:39

7 of 9. Working class solidarity exists the world over. Of course, this concept might be a little beyond your narrow-minded view of the world but there is a lot of work that can be done south of the border in support of the classroom assistants.

by Ciarán Ó Brolcháin Fri Dec 07, 2007 13:39

Speeches from the march and rally on 26th September.

Alison Miller - http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=Go8tqnNBzcU
Cecilia Mullen - http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=PUZL8cl_dyo
John Corey - http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=5NGhAFFao5U
Peter Bunting - http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=aiC2lVJhReA
Janette Murdock - http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=e4BGC8i6zBw