Nurseries in Derby have been forced to close their doors as teaching assistants (TAs) recently took part in their eighth strike since June, with more industrial action planned in the run-up to Christmas. The strikers are protesting swingeing pay cuts of up to 25 per cent after the local authority reduced their weekly hours and changed their pay to term-time only, rather than the 52-week contracts enjoyed by their teacher colleagues.
‘Teaching assistants who were earning around £16,000 a year are now earning about £11,000,’ says Adrian Morgan, regional organiser at union Unison. Joining Derby teaching assistants on the picket line will be colleagues from Durham.
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