Nursery World - Term-time deals in firing line

The public sector union Unison has lodged a pay claim with the local government pay negotiating body to put an end to term-time-only contracts in England and Wales, which it says discriminate against 'tens of thousands' of its members who work in education. The union said more than 90 per cent of term-time workers are women, that around 80 per cent of classroom support staff are unpaid for up to 13 weeks a year and that they lose out on holiday pay, sick pay and other benefits.

The union said more than 90 per cent of term-time workers are women, that around 80 per cent of classroom support staff are unpaid for up to 13 weeks a year and that they lose out on holiday pay, sick pay and other benefits.

Many are also legally prevented from claiming job seekers' allowance during school holidays, which means a classroom assistant on a contracted salary of 8,000 a year actually earns only 6,400 a year.

Although the majority of nursery nurses in schools have 52-week contracts, Unison is concerned about a growing threat from local authorities to impose term-time-only pay, which it said was equal to at least a 20 per cent pay cut.

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