West Wales teaching assistants urged to back Unison strike ballot in face of crippling living costs

A West Wales teaching assistant claims the cost-of-living crisis has had a crippling effect on her and is urging colleagues to back Unison's strike vote to win an improved pay offer.

Rebecca Ring had to cut back on heating over the winter due to sky-rocketing costs and said any spare money has gone on energy bills and food.

The mum-of-four said things will not change without united action on pay and is calling on her colleagues to back a strike ballot launched by Unison.

The public services union is balloting 360,000 local government workers in England and Wales as part of a campaign for fair pay.

Rebecca works at Ysgol Uwchradd Aberteifi in Cardigan and recently became a representative for Unison.

She said: “The effects of the cost-of-living crisis have been crippling. Any spare money I’ve had has gone on energy bills and food.

"Without government assistance with our energy bills, we would be behind on them.

“Unless we stand together on matters such as pay, things will not change.

“Teaching assistants are an essential requirement in schools, and are on the front line of education, supporting students and helping teachers.

“Teachers value the support they receive from teaching assistants, yet the wages don’t reflect the help they give.

“Belonging to Unison makes me and my colleagues feel like we matter, are being listened to and have someone fighting our corner.”

Unison said that over the past 12 years, council and school staff have lost on average 25% from the value of their pay when measured against inflation.

Rebecca added:

“My message to local government workers in Wales is make sure you complete your ballot papers and return them, without your support change cannot be made.  It’s so important that everyone uses their vote.”

Secretary of Unison's Carmarthenshire branch, Mark Evans said: "The case for taking strike action has been made, there's been an overwhelming response from our members across the county.

"Pay has fallen by 25% since 2010, and some of our members have three, four of five jobs and it still doesn't pay the bills.

"Unison did a survey of teaching assistants and 97% of them said their wages were not paying enough."

If the ballot goes ahead in favour of taking strike action, with the first dates likely in September, Mr Evans said the union has a pay increase in mind which they are fighting for.

He added: "We are looking at a 12.7% pay increase, but that only begins to start to claw back what we have lost.

"The cost of living crisis has caused a desperate situation, with inflation on basic food items at over 20%."

"Some members have said they cannot afford to strike, but in Carmarthenshire we are a militant branch and the only way to win things is to take action unfortunately, its only when we do that that we have seen results."

Unison Cymru/Wales head of local government Darron Dupre said: “It is appalling to see teaching assistants who provide such a vital service having to go without to make ends meet.

“After years of austerity, the value of council and school pay has fallen by 25% in real terms. Jobs have been cut, workloads have gone up, yet wages haven’t kept up with the rising cost of living.

"Everyone needs and deserves a pay rise that keeps up with housing, bills, and food.

"Otherwise, school staff will simply up sticks for jobs paying better wages elsewhere.

"Voting for strike action is the only way to achieve a fully funded pay offer that recognises the vital services school and council staff provide."