Classroom Assistants and temporary contracts

Figures obtained by UNISON from the Education Authority (EA), show that around 68% of the total classroom assistant workforce working in EA schools are on temporary contracts. Of the 21,815 classroom assistants (including nursery assistants), 14,930 are on temporary contracts. Of those on temporary contracts, 2,727 have been employed by the EA in the same post for more than 4 years.

The UNISON NI Local Government (Education) Service Group are challenging the EA and the Department of Education to address this unacceptable situation faced by the workforce. Workers who support the education of our children and young people should not be subject to insecure employment and the associated financial insecurity. UNISON has called on the EA to particularly address the position faced by the thousands of classroom assistants who have been employed on temporary contracts for over 4 years.

We are clear that any efforts to reform the delivery of services by the EA and Department of Education must benefit the workforce and comprehensively deal with serious issues such as these