The changes, which are due to come into effect next year, will see their annual earnings drop by as much as 23 per cent.
The combined loss of income for seven teaching assistants in Barnard Castle is about £21,000 a year. One teaching assistant says her annual salary will be cut by £4,031.
But Durham County Council says the changes are
necessary because teaching assistants are being paid for hours they do not work during school holiday times. It wants to put them on a par with other workers on the same grade.
Cllr Jane Brown, the council’s cabinet member for corporate services, said other staff could bring equal pay claims against the council
totalling millions of pounds.
She added: “This is all about removing the substantial equal pay risk that we have been legally advised we have to deal with. The risk is very real and we have received claims using the teaching assistants as a comparator for equal pay purposes.
“We appreciate this is not a position that the council or our valued teaching assistants want-to find themselves in but we have no choice but to address this issue.”
Teaching assistants from Green Lane and Montalbo primary schools who were petitioning for support in the town say if the change is not about cutting costs then the council should regrade their positions so they will not lose money.
The council says this too will be unfair to other workers, but any teaching assistant who has taken on additional duties and responsibilities can discuss the possibility of regrading with their head teachers.
Despite Cllr Brown saying the council is disappointed with the strike because it is in talks with the unions, the assistants say they are not aware of any negotiations taking place. Meanwhile parents, particularly those with special needs children, are feeling the affect.
Sandie Truten supports the strike but was upset that she had to take annual leave last week to look after her four-year-old son, Alex, who attends Green Lane.
She said: “Last time by sheer luck my mother-in-law was off for two days. I am having to take annual leave because they are missing one day this time.
“They (the school) only let us know on Friday but we knew on Wednesday because we saw it online.
“I support the teaching assistants but I think the school should have made some provision.”
The school has been particularly hard hit because it experienced a huge upsurge in reception admissions this year, possibly because of the closure of the primary school in Startforth. More teaching assistants had to be taken on for the school to cope.
Despite the inconvenience, teaching assistants say they continue to enjoy support from parents and the public in general, one of whom bought yum-yums from a local bakery for the picketing workers.
Teaching assistant Jo Foster said: “It has been very good again. Everybody has been very supportive.”
The industrial action took place last Wednesday and Thursday with the teaching assistants petitioning people for support in Barnard Castle on the first day of the strike before marching on County Hall on Thursday.
Schools in Teesdale that were affected were Cockfield, nursery closed for the two days; Copeland Road, no breakfast club, class three closed on Thursday; Evenwood, nursery and reception closed for both days; Gainford, closed for pre-school children and limited wrap around care; Green Lane, one reception class closed on Wednesday, the other closed on Thursday; Middleton-in-Teesdale, nursery closed for both days; Montalbo, nursery closed both days; Oakley Cross, school closed on Wednesday and re-opened on Friday morning; and Toft Hill, school closed on Wednesday and reopened on Friday morning.
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