Talks hopes as class strike looms

Education Minister Caitriona Ruane has called for further talks

Education Minister Caitriona Ruane has called for talks to avert a one-day strike by thousands of classroom assistants on Wednesday.

Unions and employers held emergency talks on Monday evening but these broke down after 90 minutes, with unions saying there was no progress.

The dispute goes back 12 years and centres on grading and salaries for Northern Ireland's 7,000 assistants.

Ms Ruane has urged both sides to try to resolve the dispute.

Speaking on Good Morning Ulster, the minister said: "We do need to reverse the strike. What the board and unions need to do is to go into a room and talk until this is resolved."

Janette Murdock, a classroom assistant from Dundonald, said: "It is not just talks, it would take deeds to stop us going out."

'Last resort'

The unions said they were willing to talk - and that strike action would be a last resort.

Patricia McKeown, from Unison, which represents 2,500 classroom assistants, said it was possible that the employers would come back with a reasonable offer.

"I do seriously think we may find ourselves knocking the door of the minister for education in order to have this finally resolved," she said.

If the strike goes ahead, members of one of the unions involved will not work on Wednesday.

Some schools may close early and other schools say parents of pupils who need assistance could keep their children at home.

Another three-day strike is planned for October.