As you may be aware, Teaching Assistants (TAs) in County Durham are on strike over the next couple of days. Although this does not affect teaching and learning in the independent sector (as class ratios are usually much smaller), these individuals are vital to the smooth running of schools at all levels in the state sector – indeed High Level Teaching Assistants (HLTAs) are actually able – and do – teach parts of the curriculum.
ATL support
Richard is Member of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) who are one of the unions who are holding industrial action today. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS DOES NOT AFFECT ANY SERVICES SUPPLIED BY MALLARD DAYS.
On 31st December Durham County Council will sack ATL & Unison Teaching Assistants (TAs) and then re-hire them on significantly less money. Why are they doing that? Because agreement couldn’t be reached so rather than continuing negotiations they are simply imposing these cuts.
The council claims that they are doing this as they are the only local authority who still pays whole time rather than term time only. The fact remains that TAs in Durham are currently some of the lowest paid in the region. TAs agreed to a lower pay grade to compensate for not working school holidays.
Mallard Days supports the work done by TAs in County Durham and across the country, and hopes that this dispute will be resolved soon. For more information on the strike, please visit the “Durham Teaching Assistants Value Us” campaign page or ATL’s press release.