TEACHING assistants have slammed a job evaluation scheme that they claim will leave them working more hours for less pay.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council wants to introduce the scheme as part of its new equal pay policy.

The National Single Status Agreement aims to bring together administrative, technical, clerical and manual workers under a single set of terms and conditions.

Jo Winspear, a teaching assistant at Errington Primary School, Marske, spoke to the D&S Times on behalf of colleagues.

She said: "Surely, these aims should not lead to a worsening in the terms and conditions of employment for teaching assistants. Yet this is precisely what appears to be happening.

"Not all of us are in unions. Those of us who are not, are puzzled as to why the council can unilaterally impose changes in our terms of employment. Those of us are who are, feel very much let down by union officials who only seem interested in presenting the case of others, such as kitchen staff, given that school meals appear to be a fashionable topic to discuss."

She said the scheme would undoubtedly lead to redundancies among qualified staff and resignations from other staff to maintain their level of income to support their families.

Ms Winspear said: "In 2002, the then Education Secretary, Estelle Morris, stated that teaching assistants had a vital role to play in our classrooms, and developing the role of support staff would be good for everyone in education.

"She said it would provide teachers with better support, allowing them to concentrate on teaching, and give teaching assistants the recognition that they deserve."

"Yet only three years on, the borough council is imposing a job evaluation scheme which will mean that teaching assistants in its employment will suffer a significant reduction in salary; have to work more hours for less pay; not get paid during school holidays; lose out on means-tested benefits and suffer a significant reduction in pension rights.

"Such circumstances can only have an adverse effect on staff morale which, in turn, cannot be in the best interests of the children."

Coun Glyn Nightingale, Redcar and Cleveland cabinet member for corporate resources, said: "We have passed the cases on to our human resources team to find out details of their circumstances, which may be subject to appeal, and it would be unwise to comment.

"But this is part of the arrangement to ensure the council maintains equal pay throughout the organisation.

"We are tackling a host of complex and extensive staffing problems that have been swept under the carpet for years.