Northern Ireland strike: unions demand exemption for special schools

Unions are being asked to allow special education staff to come to work during an upcoming strike that will see some schools closed for eight days.

Support staff such as bus drivers, cafeteria workers and classroom assistants will also join the strike over pay.

The Education Authority (EA) applied for an exemption and union Unite agreed to meet with the EA on the issue.

However, the union has rejected this demand on previous strike days.

Parents told BBC News NI they had serious concerns about school closures.

Anne-Marie O’Neill, whose 10-year-old son Eoin has a rare genetic disorder, said he was being forgotten.

Eoin’s school, Glenbear School in Belfast, announced it would close for eight days on strike, citing “the extent of staffing shortages and the associated risks”.

Ms O’Neill said the disruption would have a “huge impact” on Eoin, who relies heavily on his daily activities.

“Once again, it is children with special needs who are disproportionately affected,” she said.

“Mainstream schools are affected for at most one day, but the most vulnerable children are simply not seen, we are not hearing their voices, our children are not being seen. I feel like I’m not important.

“If this was affecting mainstream schools, people would be screaming from the rooftops and that would not be tolerated.”

Emma Morgan, from campaign group SEN Reform NI, said she knew parents who had “started crying” when they heard about the closures.

“People are trying to keep jobs and meet other caregiving responsibilities,” she added.

“Many of the children who need additional support also have significant behavioral problems, so they can blame their parents at home.”

Public sector workers in Northern Ireland, in sectors such as health, education and the civil service, have gone on strike in large numbers over pay disputes.

Unite has since confirmed that its members who work as school support staff in the education authority will take part in eight days of strike action from January 17th to 19th. January 24th to 26th. and February 1st and 2nd.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The funding to deliver the pay and grade review is available but is being held by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.”

“It’s shameful that workers’ wages are being used as a political bargaining tool,” she said.

Some say special needs schools will be forced to close during the strike, as they are particularly dependent on support staff.

This led the EA to request the union to exempt special school staff from attending work.

Authorities have made similar requests on previous strike days affecting special needs schools, but each time they have been rejected by the union.

Unite the Union said it would meet with EA representatives to discuss the disciplinary request before making a decision.

Speaking on the BBC’s Good Morning Ulster programme, Unite’s Kieran Ellison said: ‘Clearly we are not heartless people.

“This was done out of necessity. Not one member of Unite the Union ever said, ‘I want to disrupt these children’s lives.’ In fact, it was the opposite. .”

Ms O’Neill said the lack of routine due to the strike was particularly affecting Eoin’s sleep.

“He already requires 24/7 care, so if he’s not sleeping through the night, it has a big impact on him and of course the whole family.

“My husband and I both work full-time, so what do we do with a child like Eoin for eight days?”

“We can’t replicate all of what he got in school and all of that input, so it’s a real burden trying to juggle everything.”

O’Neill said she supports everyone’s right to a fair pay and does not blame schools, but added that someone “needs to be held accountable for these decisions, or lack thereof.”

Morgan, whose five-year-old son Tom attends a social communication unit at a primary school in County Down, said: “Some of our most vulnerable children are now missing not one day but eight days of school. It’s shocking,” he said. ”.

He added: “The bigger issue is that educators in Northern Ireland are not paid on par with those in other parts of the UK.”

“Special education educators in Northern Ireland are incredible people.

“Special education and general school staff in Northern Ireland need to be paid a fair wage.”

The government is planning a £3.3bn financial package, including around £600m to settle pay disputes, if the DUP ends its boycott and Northern Ireland’s power-sharing government is reinstated.

A spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Office said the Secretary of State and the Government had no power to negotiate public sector pay in Northern Ireland.

“It is up to the relevant departments in Northern Ireland to negotiate pay policy,” the spokesperson said.

“The Secretary of State expressed his disappointment that the new executive was not ready to take up this proposal and deliver it to the people of Northern Ireland by Christmas.

“Now is the time for all NI parties to come together, restore government and start tackling the challenges facing the people of Northern Ireland, including public sector pay.”

But Unite said its members were “clear that our Secretary of State continues to fail badly”.

The union added that it understood the EA was unable to progress the pay dispute meaningfully “because the necessary funding is not provided by the Secretary of State”.

In a statement, the Education Agency said: “We are fully aware of the impact that industrial action has on school education and the EA is working closely with all schools to minimize disruption to children and young people. “We will take all possible emergency measures.” students, schools, and families.

“The EA has called for exemptions for special education staff, knowing full well that this will impact on the most vulnerable children. , we make every effort to keep young people informed.”