Term-time deals in firing line

Catherine Gaunt
Wednesday, July 23, 2003

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.