COUNTY Durham teaching assistants have announced a two-day strike next week.

It means 1,877 teaching assistants who are part of trade unions Unison and ATL are due to walk out of schools next Tuesday, November 8 and Wednesday, November 9.

They are striking over changes Durham County Council is making to their contracts so they will be paid during term time only, which they say could cut their pay by up to 23 per cent.

Unison northern regional secretary Clare Williams said: “Nobody wants to see schools closed and teaching assistants on picket lines, but until Durham Council drops its plan to slash their salaries, that’s inevitable.

“It’s unacceptable that staff who look after children in County Durham are being treated this way – the council needs to think again.”

The decision to strike was backed by 93 per cent of Unison members who voted.

Margaret Whellans, the council’s director of children’s services, said: “Around 40 per cent of our teaching assistant workforce, from Unison and the ATL, have voted in favour of strike action, but it is important to note that the majority of staff have not voted to strike.

“The council is always willing to talk with unions and staff as it has throughout this process, however the two year compensation offer agreed through ACAS is the council’s final offer.

“The education and wellbeing of our children and young people are our primary concern and we will continue to work closely with headteachers and school governors to help them mitigate the impact of this strike on pupils.”

The council is making the changes because it says it faces a risk of equal pay claims from other employees.

Teaching assistant and #ValueUs campaigner Anne Richardson said: “The success of our campaign is down to the resilience, determination and strength of County Durham teaching assistants.

“We therefore expect the strike action to be widely supported as TAs are feeling increasingly angry and frustrated at the lack of willingness on Durham County Council’s part to consider alternative solutions.”

Unison general secretary Dave Prentis said: “Teaching assistants will be showing just how strongly they feel about this next week and they will have their union and community standing beside them.”