04/12/2014

NIPSA Anger Over Education Job Losses

The NIPSA union has reacted angrily to news that at least 2,500 Department of Education staff could be made redundant next April. 

The news was announced in advance of a meeting next week with unions representing support staff and teachers.

Paddy Mackel, Assistant Secretary of NIPSA, said: "This is a disgraceful way to treat unions, our members and those children and young people who rely on education workers to provide a world class service to prepare them for adulthood in a society which cares for all its citizens equally, not just the rich. The figures quoted by the Department are truly shocking."

Mr Mackel continued: "Given that the Executive has agreed to slash the Education resource budget by £162m in one year the real figure for job losses is almost certainly more than twice the figure quoted by the Senior Official, probably in excess of 5,000. 

"You cannot cut thousands of jobs in schools, including teaching staff, classroom assistants and other vital support workers, as well as decimate professional and administrative support in Board Headquarters without severely damaging education provision for children and young people; the effects of which will be felt for a generation.

"These young people have not been responsible for the mismanagement of the economy or the banking disaster or government decisions to facilitate tax avoidance. They should not be the ones to pay for the bailouts."

(IT/JP)

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