Non-teaching staff protest outside the Department of Education HQ

Thousands of non-teaching staff took strike action today as part of an on-going fight over pay and grading. The four trade unions; Unite the Union, NIPSA, GMB and Unison, joined together creating what unions are describing as the biggest strike in years, for non-teaching staff in education.

Many protested outside the Department for Education HQ, claiming their wage is not liveable. Some said their children earn more than them, for doing work with less responsibility.

Alexandrea Maine, works in the SEN unit (special educational needs) as a classroom assistant. She says, “Last year alone the specials division went up by 25%. We have no extra resources, there is more cuts, and the pay is horrendous. That means people aren’t willing to step into those roles, people done want to work. It’s a very challenging job and you must have the passion and the love for it, but we aren’t getting a liveable wage.”

She went on to say how herself and her colleagues feel massively undervalued as they are seen as 'disposable.'

“Overall, we’re failing the kids and it’s not fair. The kids deserve better. It’s time to stand up and give the kids who don’t have a voice, a voice. It’s their right and we are here to speak up for them.”

Robert McKinley is school transport driver for a special education school in Bangor. He says he feels for the parents, as the school was forced to close. However, he feels 'overwhelming' support from them, as the strike action was not a decision Robert took lightly.

“We are working far too many hours for far too little pay. It’s a very stressful job, with no rewards and no compensation. You're feeling very undervalued for the work you’re doing.”

He says the Department for Education is a ‘disorganised’ company which is ‘poorly run’. He Is calling for Westminster to step in with funding and support.

‘It is very hard to manage at the moment… inflation is way higher than my wages. That’s all we are asking for; a decent days wage for a decent days work.”

Ashtra Hagen is a cleaner in a school in Newtownards. She says cleaners in school feel extremely undervalued.

Denise also cleans with Ashtra. She says, “cleaners are really forgotten about in schools. It’s us, when the schools opened again though COVID, everything was cleaned day in day out. Door handles, floors, everything. We don’t feel appreciated for it at all.”

Among the hundred protesting with flags and signs, outside the Department of Education HQ in Bangor, were classroom assistants, transport staff, cleaners, caterers and admin staff. Many more union members were on the pickets lines today on schools around the country. As cars drove past those striking in Bangor they honked their horns in support.

Major disruption was cause today as many schools were forced to close their doors.

The Department of Education say the proposal from the Education Authority and trade unions would have a significant cost, and "there is currently no budget available to implement this without significant further funding being made available."