Schools are closed for pay strike (From Warrington Guardian)

Schools are closed for pay strike

FOUR special schools in mid Cheshire closed on Thursday as assistants employed by Cheshire County Council went on strike in a dispute over pay.

Administration staff from social services joined the assistants from the Russett School, Greenbank Residential School, Hebden Green Community School and Rosebank School.

They were protesting over a single status pay grading scheme, which they say has led to many teaching assistants facing cuts in salary of up to £2,000 per year.

Ray McHale, UNISON service conditions officer, said: "It is unfortunate that the Conservative council continues to ignore the anger and concerns of its staff, preferring instead to be able to boast that over the past three years, it has set the lowest Council Tax increases of any shire council in England.

"As far as UNISON is concerned, these low tax increases are being funded by unacceptable cuts in our members' pay."

A Cheshire County Council spokesman said: "We very much regret that the strike will affect the education of several hundred children - many of them with special educational needs.

"However, talks are continuing at a regional and local level in an attempt to find a solution to this situation."

UNISON says it is planning further strike action before Easter and expects to involve other groups of staff.