[Wales] Some school support staff paid below minimum wage

In Wales, a union has revealed that some school support staff are earning less than minimum wage as a result of the way their salaries are paid, BBC News reports.

Unison Cymru stated that the pay of affected staff also varied depending on where they lived in Wales. 

The union reportedly added that some staff were routinely asked to take classes while teachers were on planned absences, meaning they are acting well above their pay grade and beyond their skillset.

One teaching assistant with decades of experience told BBC News that those in the role were "treated as second-class citizens, sometimes as skivvies".

The Welsh government said a Strategic Education Workforce Plan will establish steps that ensure teaching assistants have the "recognition and support they deserve".

School teachers have the support of a range of other staff, including teaching assistants, cleaners, catering staff and office workers.

However, Unison Cymru said the pay and working conditions of these staff were very different from their teaching colleagues, with many on low wages, meaning they have had to take on second jobs to make ends meet.

According to the union, teaching assistants are only paid for working nine months of the year because of school holidays, unlike teachers, which means their nine months of pay is stretched over 12 months.

The union added that many teaching assistants were on fixed-term contracts, provoking job security fears, and pay rates differed across Welsh councils, with people in different areas getting paid less than in others.

Rosie Lewis, from Unison Cymru, told BBC News that this long-term low pay situation meant some staff ended up earning less than the minimum wage, and has led to substantial hardship.

"Members are having to use food banks in the school to be able to put food on the table for their children," she said.

"We know of lots of schools, a couple in Cardiff, for example, where they have a specific food bank for those staff working in the school.

"Now to be in work poverty in that way... is a horrible situation for our members to be in."

The Welsh Local Government Association reportedly said that it valued the work of "all non-teaching staff".

"Where issues occur, we are committed to working with trade unions and staff to resolve and also learn from these issues," it said.

The Welsh government said, "Teaching assistants are a key and valued part of our education workforce and we want to make sure they have the recognition and support they deserve.

"The Strategic Education Workforce Plan will set out the next steps to achieving this, including improving terms and conditions and working with our partners on a School Support Staff Negotiating Body for Wales."

Plaid Cymru said, "Bold steps are needed to make teaching assistant roles more attractive as part of a wider package of measures to address the recruitment and retention issues facing this key sector."

Source: BBC News

(Link and quotes via original reporting)

In Wales, a union has revealed that some school support staff are earning less than minimum wage as a result of the way their salaries are paid, BBC News reports.

Unison Cymru stated that the pay of affected staff also varied depending on where they lived in Wales. 

The union reportedly added that some staff were routinely asked to take classes while teachers were on planned absences, meaning they are acting well above their pay grade and beyond their skillset.

One teaching assistant with decades of experience told BBC News that those in the role were "treated as second-class citizens, sometimes as skivvies".

The Welsh government said a Strategic Education Workforce Plan will establish steps that ensure teaching assistants have the "recognition and support they deserve".

School teachers have the support of a range of other staff, including teaching assistants, cleaners, catering staff and office workers.

However, Unison Cymru said the pay and working conditions of these staff were very different from their teaching colleagues, with many on low wages, meaning they have had to take on second jobs to make ends meet.

According to the union, teaching assistants are only paid for working nine months of the year because of school holidays, unlike teachers, which means their nine months of pay is stretched over 12 months.

The union added that many teaching assistants were on fixed-term contracts, provoking job security fears, and pay rates differed across Welsh councils, with people in different areas getting paid less than in others.

Rosie Lewis, from Unison Cymru, told BBC News that this long-term low pay situation meant some staff ended up earning less than the minimum wage, and has led to substantial hardship.

"Members are having to use food banks in the school to be able to put food on the table for their children," she said.

"We know of lots of schools, a couple in Cardiff, for example, where they have a specific food bank for those staff working in the school.

"Now to be in work poverty in that way... is a horrible situation for our members to be in."

The Welsh Local Government Association reportedly said that it valued the work of "all non-teaching staff".

"Where issues occur, we are committed to working with trade unions and staff to resolve and also learn from these issues," it said.

The Welsh government said, "Teaching assistants are a key and valued part of our education workforce and we want to make sure they have the recognition and support they deserve.

"The Strategic Education Workforce Plan will set out the next steps to achieving this, including improving terms and conditions and working with our partners on a School Support Staff Negotiating Body for Wales."

Plaid Cymru said, "Bold steps are needed to make teaching assistant roles more attractive as part of a wider package of measures to address the recruitment and retention issues facing this key sector."

Source: BBC News

(Link and quotes via original reporting)