It would seem that the Mayor of Derby doesn’t know whether to be sympathetic to the cause of the Teaching Assistants, or to be offended by a banner which one parent felt […]
Why does the Mayor of Derby find this banner so ‘offensive’?
“Dear Cllr Banwait…” Open letter in response to Teaching Assistant complaint.
Dear Cllr Banwait I have seen the response that you have sent to the Teaching Assistants who have written to you complaining about the unresolved pay dispute. Your letter deals with many […]
Strike! Teaching Assistants/ School Support staff continue their fight against a 25% PAY CUT
Today the Teaching Assistants / Schools Support Staff are on strike for the first time, in the new term. Anyone who thought that the school holidays would dampen their resolve is very […]
TA/School Support Staff : Letter from Derby City Council Chief Exec sparks angry response.
Following discussions between Derby City Council (DCC) and UNISON on Friday 9th September ( which proved to be unsatisfactory) and in an attempt to head off the Strike action planned for next […]
Parents shout “Banwait Out” in support of Teaching Assistants pay dispute
For the second time in one week, and with more parents involved , including a number of Teaching Assistants, they collected in the Council Offices and protested against the pay cuts for […]
Why is Banwait lying about the Teaching Assistant/Support Staff pay dispute?
I reported previously that Parents of children affected by the Teaching Assistant / Support Staff strike are becoming more vocal and active. A number I have spoken to have phoned and emailed […]
Parents protest in Council House in support of Teaching Assistants over pay dispute
Today was the start of the lunchtime strikes by the Teaching Assistants and School Support staff. This left many parents, especially those with severely disabled children, in a real practical dilemma. The […]
STRIKE! Teaching Assistants/Support staff fighting for fairness
At 10.29am there was a handful of us standing on the Council House steps – waiting with anticipation, seeing the odd Councillor scuttle in through the main doors. And then, like the […]
Teaching Support Staff Strike : Perhaps the Council should start listening to the Parents!
Parents are worried, angry, upset, anxious and are now speaking out. Yes, they will be disrupted by the strike action, but they are behind the TAs, and other school support staff, and […]
Teaching Assistants dismissed, and forced by Derby City Council to “accept” Pay cuts
Last night, all of the Teaching Assistants (TAs) in Derby who had not already accepted Derby City Council’s new Terms and Conditions were dismissed. This resulted from the Council’s inability to negotiate […]
Teaching Assistant Pay Cuts : Council’s report concludes it fails the Equality test. Why was it implemented?
After delaying the original draconian Derby City Council decision, by 6 months, to cut the pay of Teaching Support staff by 25%, the day of change has finally arrived. Those who have […]
Teaching Assistant Crisis: Did Banwait mislead the Council over UNISON?
During the Full Council meeting on November 25th 2015, Cllr Banwait was asked a question from a member of the public and his response was punctuated by an attack on UNISON, one […]
Teaching Assistant Pay Crisis: Banwait’s sinking fast without any ideas!
Derby City Council’s Equal Pay Review should be about a focussed set of changes to assure gender equality between all employees in similar jobs. It should not be a vehicle to promote […]
Derby City Council’s travesty of democracy over Teaching Assistant petition
Last Wednesday I reported on the fiasco which was the “debate” in the Derby City Council meeting on the Teaching Assistant’s petition. The Mayor rudely cut short Julia Redfern’s opening speech after […]
Labour Council insults Teaching Assistants with “wishy-washy” debate
When Ranjit Banwait was asked by a fellow member of the Council Chamber whether he was planning to audition for the role of “Wishy-Washy” in this year’s pantomime – I was reassured […]
Derby City Council defer Pay Cuts until 1 June 2016; short-term victory for protestors
Following the demonstrations and public outcry against the Pay cuts for the Teaching Assistants, and lack of agreement, this is the letter issued by Paul Robinson yesterday to all affected staff. Note […]
Derby City Council’s Teaching Assistant pay cuts; Is this Banwait’s “Poll tax” moment?
Cutting someone’s pay by 25% at 3 month’s notice has no legitimacy, morally, or ethically. Anyone who believes that such a policy could ever have been acceptable, really needs to question their […]
Derby News 