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From The Socialist newspaper, 14 December 2016
Derby TAs to strike against pay cut
TAs join a rally for Jeremy Corbyn in Derby 16 August 2016 photo Steve Score (Click to enlarge)
Charlie Taylor, Derby Socialist Party
Derby teaching assistants (TAs) are to take a further six days of strike action in their dispute with the Labour-led city council. The strike dates are 14, 15, 19 and 20 December 2016 and then again in the new year on 19 and 20 January.
The TAs have already taken several days of strike action over massive cuts to pay.
The cuts came about originally in the name of 'single status' and a review on equal pay. This review saw some workers gain but around 1,200 Unison members will see their pay slashed.
Contracts
These new contracts were imposed on the teaching assistants in June this year. Many will see pay cuts of up to 25%, averaging £300-400 a month; some are losing as much as £6,000 a year.
In October planned strikes were suspended to allow talks to end the dispute. The council offered to make a one-off payment of £2,000 to staff that meet certain criteria. Unison says this equates to just 10% of the 2,700 who have been left out-of-pocket by the contract changes.
Staff voted to reject this offer and are now preparing for more strike action.
As in the Durham dispute it is a Labour council that is forcing through massive cuts to its workers' pay. The leader of Derby City Council, Rangit Banwait, stood on the same platform as Jeremy Corbyn in front of 1,000 people and declared himself a democratic socialist and a supporter of Jeremy.
As with thousands of other Labour councillors, those in Derby should face re-selection if they are not prepared to stand up and fight.
Derby TAs will be encouraged by the struggle of the Durham TAs who have shown that action can force councils back.
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In The Socialist 14 December 2016:
Socialist Party news and analysis
NHS crisis: we're fighting back!
End the Tories' war on the working poor
Amazon workers living in tents
Pfizer drug extortion - nationalise big pharma!
Trust in politicians reaches all-time low
No to home seizures for care bills
What we think
Establishment EU crisis deepens - fight for a socialist Brexit
A socialist programme for education
Education for all - not exam factories
International socialist news and analysis
CWI: opportunities for substantial growth
Workplace news and analysis
Glasgow Labour leaders deluged with protests
Victory for UPS parcel workers
Nationalise Tata Steel to save jobs and pensions
Bin workers strike against draconian management
Derby TAs to strike against pay cut
Southern: back the strike, nationalise the railways!
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Birmingham Labour: Corbyn supporters need not apply
The Socialist Party and fighting women's oppression
Doncaster: cuts give rise to 'tent city'
Scrooge Tory council confronted over treatment of homeless
Comment and review
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