County Durham Council has claimed that resolving a dispute over teaching assistants pay would cost millions of pounds and ‘hundreds of jobs’.
The news comes as teaching assistants in the area are staging a 48-hour strike over the local authority’s proposal to only pay them using term time.
The strike will affect 87 schools - 70 per cent will be partially closed and 19 will shut for both days.
Councillor Jane Brown, Labour cabinet member, commented: ”It was brought to our attention that the teaching assistants were on a contract that was very different from the rest of our workforce.
"They also get paid for more hours than they actually work and almost six weeks extra holiday fully paid a year than the rest of our employees - we really had to address this situation.”
However, Union bosses have argued the council's proposals would mean a 20 per cent drop in support staff salaries.
Clare Williams, Unison northern regional secretary, said: "It's very simple, there can be no justification to say you are tackling an equal pay issue by slashing pay by up to 23 per cent. Teaching assistants are dedicated to their jobs and the children they teach.”
"They don't want to be taking strike action, but the council has left them with no option."
Following last week's local elections, the political proportionality of the Local Government Association (LGA) has been confirmed.
A £25 million road refurbishment programme is set to begin, funding 22 projects across Wales’ strategic road network.
The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, is to announce that City Hall is considering releasing part of London’s green belt to enable development.
The Welsh government have announced a £31.5 million boost for nine local authorities to help deliver projects such as Y Storfa in Swansea, the Queen’s Market in Rhyl and the demolition of Newport Leisure Centre.
A new coalition made up of City Hall, Government, local councils, the London Fire Brigade and regulatory bodies will lead vital work to end London&
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Following a period of remarkable growth and momentum, Safety, Health and Wellbeing Live is making a powerful move—relocating its southern edition to the iconic London Olympia on 18–19 June 2025.
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For those involved in debt recovery, supporting engagement is critical, not just to resolve outstanding debts, but to protect vulnerable citizens, improve financial resilience, and uphold trust in public services. In this article, the CSA's head of policy, Daniel Spenceley explores why overcoming disengagement is so crucial, what barriers remain, and how collective action, including better financial education and tackling online misinformation, can create a more supportive environment for those in financial difficulty.
