School helpers to consider offer

Unions plan further strike action next week

Classroom assistants are to consider a pay offer from employers after further talks were held to resolve a long-running dispute.

Nipsa's Alison Millar said "substantive progress" had been made during Friday's talks, which involved four unions.

Employers spokesman Robin Harper said they were offering "a substantial additional sum of money".

"Each classroom assistant would receive a one-off payment separate from arrears due under the job evaluation scheme."

The dispute centres on pay and re-grading, and has been going on for 12 years without resolution.

The unions refused to divulge any further details of the package on offer until classroom assistants had been consulted.

The day began in acrimony, with the GMB union accusing Nipsa of taking its members out on strike unnecessarily on Wednesday.

However, the unions said their differences had been resolved by the beginning of the talks, aimed at averting further strike action.