End of pay dispute by school support workers welcomed
Sinn Féin Foyle MLA Pádraig Delargy welcomed agreement between trade unions and the Education Authority to implement the Pay and Grading Review
An agreement has been secured to resolve a long-running dispute over pay and grading for school support workers.
Education Minister Paul Givan said school support staff would now receive a “significant investment in pay”.
Thousands of non-teaching support staff have been involved in industrial action as part of the dispute with employers over pay and grading.
The non-teaching staff – including bus drivers, classroom assistants and cleaning and canteen staff – took part in three days of strike action in May.
Unions GMB, Nipsa, Unison and Unite had been undertaking individual consultations over the summer months.
Sinn Féin Foyle MLA Pádraig Delargy has welcomed agreement between trade unions and the Education Authority to implement the Pay and Grading Review.
He said: “It’s great news that unions and the Education Authority have reached an agreement to pay educational support staff a fair wage.
“This follows positive engagement between the finance and education ministers who worked constructively to find a resolution to this matter.
“Support staff in our schools are a vital pillar to ensuring our children and young people have a first-class education and the very best start to life.
“All our public sector workers deserve to have fair pay and good working conditions.”