A parent talks about the impact of school strikes on her son and the whole family.
Johann Meredith’s 12-year-old son, Charlie, is one of 190 students aged 8 to 19 with learning disabilities attending Glenveagh School in Belfast.
The Unite union, which represents classroom assistants, was due to end its strike over pay disputes on Monday, but the education administration has confirmed that an additional period will run from May 11 to June 1.
Read more: NI schools will face additional disruptions due to strikes next week
While supporting the strike, Johanne told Belfast Live that more needs to be done to protect children who miss it.
She said: “I fully support the strike of classroom assistants because their pay is incredibly low given the amount of work they do.
“My child has Down syndrome and needs almost round-the-clock care and support. It is independent in some things, but does not realize the danger – it just needs that support.
“These classroom assistants are like gold dust, they do everything from personal care, they manage very provocative behavior and they don’t get enough credit for it. But EA just ignores all that, and the people who are suffering are the parents and the children. “
There are 39 special schools in Northern Ireland and Charlie’s school is the only one that has not opened its doors to students.
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Johanne said they rested for a week in March and two weeks after the Easter holidays.
She added: “There is nothing better than teaching one-on-one in these schools. It’s the emotional and psychological support, it’s the feeling of being part of a group, it’s the routine of the children and everything for them.”
When Johanne approached the education authority with questions about free school meals during the strike, she claimed she had been ignored, but EA answered a question from her MLA.
“They said they had no obligation to provide free school meals to children during the strike, only during the pandemic,” Johanne continued.
“During the pandemic, they would have to pay instead because they are disadvantaged children and usually their only hot meal of the day is at school, when they receive their free school meals.
“Given that this strike must continue indefinitely, there are many children here who are seriously disadvantaged. Fortunately, I am not in this situation, but I will have to start taking unpaid leave if this continue. “
She said the communication and response of the education administration throughout the strike was “terrible”.
Johanne added: “EA’s attitude was terrible, saying they had no obligations. I feel that they need to start planning ahead, as the children have already lost three weeks of training and EA does not seem to be in a hurry to solve this problem.
“They said they are applying mitigation measures and doing everything possible, but I can’t see how, because children are not offered alternative education.”
Northern Ireland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People, Kula Yasuma, said the current position in the further loss of education and services for children with special needs was “untenable”.
She said: “Special schools provide education, but also basic therapeutic and health services, and they have been lost to many children and families.
“It is therefore disappointing and worrying that it is precisely these children, especially those at Glenveagh Special School, who are most severely affected by this industrial action.
“I do not question the right of workers to strike, especially when we take into account the impact of rising living costs on so many families. However, I call on both sides to pay special attention to children and young people and to reach an immediate solution so that children can enjoy their right to full education and health care.
A spokesman for the education authority said: “The education authority has received additional notification from Unite the Union for an additional period of industrial action from 11 May to 1 June.
“We are very aware of the real impact that the ongoing strike is having on children and young people, especially at Glenveagh School, which has had to shift to distance learning as a result of industrial action.
“We are in daily contact with the school and are exploring all possibilities to try to facilitate at least a little face-to-face training for children and young people.
“However, this has proved very challenging, as the vast majority of Glenveagh classroom assistants are on strike, leaving fewer than five classroom assistants at the school. Given the ratio of students to classroom assistants, the possibility of part-time training for young people has not been possible so far, as many specialized and complex care cannot be provided safely. “
The education authority also confirmed that it is continuing to explore the possibility of providing free school meals for distance learning students.
“We would also ask Unite to reconsider our requests for exceptions for staff supporting special school services that are valid, reasonable and would help protect our most vulnerable children.
“The ongoing industrial action by Unite the Union is related to NJC’s agreed remuneration for 2021/22, which EA does not have the power or authority to renegotiate.
“This is because the payment of NJC is negotiated and negotiated at the national level according to collective bargaining agreements, which includes 3 unions, including Unite. Local government organizations, including EA, then apply the agreed remuneration.
“However, the national negotiations for the 2022/23 salary award are about to begin and this is an opportunity to influence the future salary award and make a real difference. Once again, we would encourage Unite to take an active part in these negotiations in a constructive and meaningful way.
“We value all our staff and are committed to advocating for a fair pay proposal in the NJC 2022/23 national negotiations to reflect the rising prices and pressures facing workers and families during these very challenging times.
“In addition, we are firmly committed to continuing to engage collectively with all of our local unions on issues other than the 2021/22 National Remuneration Award, which has an impact on pay and conditions. This process continues. “
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