Nursery World - Assistants appeal to teachers

The president of a union representing classroom assistants and school support staff has sought to allay fears among some teachers that its members are out to replace teachers and take their jobs. Mary Turner, GMB president, told delegates at 'The Hidden Professionals', the union's first national conference on school support staff, that she wanted to reassure members of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) that their jobs were safe. She said, 'We are not here to take NUT members' jobs.

Mary Turner, GMB president, told delegates at 'The Hidden Professionals', the union's first national conference on school support staff, that she wanted to reassure members of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) that their jobs were safe. She said, 'We are not here to take NUT members' jobs.

We are here to see that teaching assistants get proper recognition and a proper pay structure.

'We respect the jobs teachers do and we expect them to do the same for us.'

Ms Turner made her comment last week after a support staff delegate asked from the floor how the NUT could be persuaded to change its mind about signing the national agreement over reforming the school workforce in England and Wales (News, 16 and 23 January).

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