Two year dispute amost at an end?

A BITTER two year dispute betwen councillors and classroom assistants enters a new phase.

For the second time in four months, a package of terms and conditions will be put before Durham County Council for approval.

If agreed it is hoped the proposal will see an end to the long-running review of the terms and conditions of TAs in the county, which has seen them strike and picket County Hall.

The final proposal includes the creation of: a career progression board a tailored training package, and a delayed implementation date for contract changes of January 2018 with two years of compensation from that dates.

Unions praised the council’s offer in June as a “breakthrough” after councillors voted 56 to 32 in favour of the new proposals.

While it was accepted by GMB and Unite members, all offers over the two years have so far been rejected by Unison members.

Council bosses now hope this proposal, developed during more recent talks, will bring the “complex matter” to a resolution.

Jane Brown, cabinet member at the council, said: “We have continued to listen carefully and I am pleased to say we now have a proposal that gives a greater understanding of some of the issues raised during negotiations, and we now hope that this will bring an end to this dispute.

“By establishing a teaching assistant career progression board and a formal training programme to support our TAs into further career opportunities we believe we have done everything conceivably possible to provide on-going support.”

The majority of assistants are contracted to work 32.5 hours during term-time, but are paid for 37 hours a week whole-time.

The council has said it has no choice but to change the contracts due to the risk of equal pay claims from other non-teaching staff who were on term-time only contracts.

And Olwyn Gunn, cabinet member for children and young people, believes the move will benefit the education of young people.

She added: “This review has without doubt been complex involving recognised trade unions, teaching assistant representatives and head teachers.”

Councillors will consider the offer on Wednesday.