Ei-iE

We are against education personnel having to work in precarious jobs and who are being sacrificed and ignored. This was the slogan put forward by the inter-union alliance, which has called for a strike on January 16th, in support of SEN teaching assistants and education support assistants. Unions are asking the government to make strong commitments to improve their working conditions and to ensure better professional recognition for them.

The Single Union Federation (FSU), the National Union of Education Unions – General Confederation of Labour (CGT Education), the National Union of high schools, colleges, schools and higher education institutions (SNALC) and the SUD (Solidarity-based, single and democratic Union) explained that “cabinet reshuffles and the lack of concrete political commitment have put paid to any hope the situation would significantly improve. In response to the indifference and disdain show by institutions, an increasing number of education support staff are choosing to give up their jobs rather than wait in vain for changes that will never come.”

Union organisations have sounded the alarm several times regarding the “awful conditions” in which teaching assistants work. “These public sector workers are obliged to work part-time meaning they -mostly women – are kept in precarious conditions, often living below the poverty line.”

They also noted that since the establishment of local, inclusive support hubs (set up in every department to coordinate teaching assistants in state schools and private schools under contract) working conditions have worsened. This includes an increasing number of pupils to support, support personnel being assigned to several schools, their timetables being overloaded and sometimes changed at the last minute and having to deal with increasingly complex disabilities. Furthermore, all of this has happened without them being able to start discussions that take stock of how the system has worked so far.

Union demands

Unions are against arbitrary decisions that jeopardise education support staff rights. They have emphasised the fact that “we must urgently start a process that will allow SEN teaching assistants to escape poverty”.

They are demanding:

• A civil service agency be created so the job of SEN teaching assistant be recognised;
• A significant increase in pay throughout the career;
• Full-time work be recognised based on supporting a pupil for 24 hours and without adding to their workload for extracurricular activities;
• The local, inclusive support hubs be done away with – teaching support should be organised at department level and should ensure SEN teaching assistants are given support and resources should be pooled.
• The recruitment of SEN teaching assistants should be carried out in line with current needs.

SNES-FSU: Putting an end to extra duties and time on the job

The National Union of Secondary Education (SNES-FSU) underscored the many reasons for calling for action: an increasing number of pupils to support, being assigned to several schools.

According to the union, the government is trying to deprive SEN teaching assistants of their rights, such as compensation for travel, time for related activities or training.

The new measure for lunchbreaks has created havoc and can sometimes lead to a loss of income the SNES-FSU added. “Supporting a pupil for 24 hours during school hours is a full-time job! There is no need to add extra duties or time on the job!”

CGT Education: Job insecurity for life? No thanks!

The National Union of National Education Unions – General Confederation of Labour (CGT) has also called for a strike on January 16th.

The Union points out that “National Education doesn’t just mean teachers. In order for us to have equal and emancipatory education, we need staff who have different vocational approaches and cultures: social workers, nurses, education support assistants, SEN teaching assistants. Every one of us is vital for schools to work and for pupils’ education”.

It believes that although education support assistants and SEN teaching assistants have different duties, both face job insecurity and have the lowest wages in the national education system. They also face unpleasant working conditions because of real or implicit subordination at work.

The CGT Education concluded by asking: Why don’t we work together to really reduce job insecurity, so workers are given state employee status and working conditions improve?”