Support staff deal sought by Unison

Claims for the regrading of nursery nurses and classroom assistants are being submitted to local authorities in England by trade union Unison.

The public sector union's campaign to gain a summer holiday retainer fee or salary for childcare workers has gathered pace following a meeting in London earlier this month (News, 5 October). More than 50 representatives from 17 branches of Unison met to discuss how to get a better deal for support staff, end low pay in education, and establish proper contracts and national terms and conditions. 

A plan of action was drawn up to take the meeting's resolutions to Unison's regional branches and then take action nationwide.

Nottinghamshire County branch told the meeting about its regrading claim, which is based on the successful equal pay case in Gloucestershire in 1998. It involves a three-tier career grade structure which would enable staff to earn more when they are given greater responsibility. Each grade has its own job description and is based on a standard 37-hour working week.

Unison representatives also discussed the findings of a survey of education teaching assistants (ETAs). The survey, 'A Better Deal for ETAs', conducted by Kirklees Unison, found that, despite low pay and increasing workloads, ETAs generally enjoyed their work and brought energy and enthusiasm to the classroom. 

More than half the respondents to the survey were on the lowest pay scale, with 92 per cent believing their pay did not reflect the tasks they were expected to undertake, including some duties not relevant to their job. One respondent said, 'There is a wealth of talent, experience and knowledge among support staff and it goes unrecognised by the local authority.'

The survey also found that it was common for an ETA to be left alone in charge of a classroom. One respondent said another support assistant would often be employed if a teacher was absent. The majority of ETAs voluntarily did additional work outside school hours to prepare resources, write review reports and update their daily log of the children. 

The report said, 'ETAs who support statemented children are still, alongside many other assistants, considered temporary and receive no remuneration outside of term-time employment (apart from pay in lieu of holidays), leaving well over a month unpaid. A goodwill gesture from our employers to close this gap and pay an increased "salary" to compensate for this would be seen as recognition of this shortfall.'

Mike Forster, chief education steward for Kirklees Unison, said, 'Through the survey the local authorities can now clearly see the problems faced by teaching assistants. It now has to be translated into pounds and pence, and recognition through permanent contracts.'