Nursery staff in pay protest

Unison says classroom assistants need a 'career structure'

Classroom assistants and nursery nurses are due to stage a protest at a meeting of councillors in County Durham on Wednesday over a pay row.

They are angry at what they say is Durham County Council's failure to re-open negotiations on career structure and re-grading.

Union leaders claim teaching support staff are stuck on a pay scale which has not improved for 15 years and offers no career prospects.

The proposal to improve pay scales was lodged by Unison in November 2001.

But despite protest letters and a meeting with the leader of Durham County Council, Unison say the Local Education Authority has still not returned to the negotiating table or put forward any offer to meet the claim.

The claim is designed to improve pay across the board and give better rewards for those with the most qualifications, experience and responsibility.

Unison say anger and frustration is now rising among staff who they say perform a "vital role" in the education of children and in raising standards.

Howard Pink, Unison's regional officer, said the role of the nursery nurse and teaching assistant had evolved.

"These people are doing an absolutely vital role, linked very closely to improving educational standards for children.

"Their role is very much an educational one, and if it was not for their work and talents, we wouldn't see the improvements which are happening across the whole county in raising educational standards.

"We want to see them rewarded in the same way teachers have been in recent years."