Education support workers irate

Education Support Staff have held a protest in Lisburn to highlight their anger and frustration over an “unacceptable delay of payment” of their annual contractual increment.
Education workers and members of NIPSA who held a protest outside Lisburn Library against ongoing pay freezes. INUS4113-NIPSAEducation workers and members of NIPSA who held a protest outside Lisburn Library against ongoing pay freezes. INUS4113-NIPSA
Education workers and members of NIPSA who held a protest outside Lisburn Library against ongoing pay freezes. INUS4113-NIPSA

The staff claim they have not received pay owed to them since April 1 resulting in for many a shortfall of hundreds of pounds in their wages.

A spokesperspon for the workers said: “NIPSA has pursued the matter with the South Eastern Education Board and the Education Minister John O’Dowd. Unfortunately John O’Dowd has refused to give a date for payment and we are facing another prolonged period whereby Support Staff are being driven further into poverty as our cost of living soar regarding their heating, electric and food.”

A spokesperson for the Department of Education said: “The Minister fully appreciates the contribution that all staff make to our education system and believes any delay in payment to any staff group is unacceptable.

“He has prioritised the backlog of work on education sector pay to ensure that staff awaiting overdue payments are at the top of the list. Last month he announced his intention to take action to ensure that staff receive their payments as quickly as possible.

“Our support staff are an integral part of our education system and now that the National Joint Council has reached an agreement on a 1% pay increase, work has begun to secure approvals for both this award and increments for this vital staff group.”

A spokesperson for SEELB said: “The SEELB share the frustrations of the staff and the Board continues to press the Department of Education to secure approval for making these payments to the staff affected.”