Agree & disagree with you Catbells.

Yes we do get 14 weeks holiday a year...but we have to have our holiday in those times & pay over the odds for our holiday.

I can't afford 2 days as I have just had to take 2 days off as my kids are sick & I don't get paid for that.

I think what it is is that the majority of TA's do it for the love of the job & the money isn't that important BUT I do think we should get paid for the level of work we do and the amount of us that have trained & have proper qualifications, and this is what we want to be recognised for.

We don't just sit around waiting to be asked to do something. We are all busy all day.

If the government want TA's in the schools & wants them to train then they should pay them the relevant wage.

Also I think of people like street cleaners & bin collectors, who wants to do that. THere are many many support workers that just aren't paid enough. This strike isn't just for TA's it's for all support workers.

I think a lot of us feel guilty because it's the end of the term. It's just the timing that's wrong as well for most of us.

Don't think they've thought it through when some counties will have shut for the holidays anyway.
Falls on or sports days. I think the school may function withut TAs for a day but not sure about kitchen/cleaners and midday staff!

madmum

We do not get 14 weeks holiday, we get some holiday and are not working for the rest. Holiday imlpys we are paid

I am one of the ones still in a quandry, yes I know I should strike and have always supported a Union when being a member. Checked today at work and no-one else is going out, as I am the only one on a Temp contract you do worry. Also, although I can't go into detail, we have an appeal court pending and this could cause problems.

So although I appreciate your views Johns, please remember not everyone is in the same boat.

Update - a list went round my school and nobody wants to go out, so... no.

That's how we do it in my school, Jack-of-all-Trades. I and various others only joined a union because the HT told us to a few years back.

I only joined a union for the profession indemnity insurance. I also only ever join role specific unions. I'm in ATL for my TA job and am still in The Society of Radiographers, my former profession that I will soon be returning too.

I want to be sure I only ever strike for things that affect me. Would always go with the union though, actually thought it was against the rules not to strike if the union was out. Also thought is was against rules to strike if not in the union. Have I got that right?

I tend to think the work to role action can be more effective and then people realise how much you/we do above and beyond our job description.

Yes colourful lady you are right.There was some interesting posts on TES where one person seemed very confused.

One of the problems is that some TA's in some counties are a lot worse off than other counties which is partly why I wanted people to pm me with the pay scales of their county so I could post a list.It would be interesting and also helpful to TA's moving areas or those near the border of another county/country.I know some counties pay is much higher then the area I work in but I'm sure there will be some worse off too.

yep Catbells....thousands of building workers laid off this week alone, thats going to affect my househod badly

and the ripples will affect the other 2 workers in my house...one daughter in the sales industry and one in tourism

I have made the decision today, I am not striking. Go's against some of my principals but I will go in.

I know it is a cop out but I had so much stuff to factor in this time

And if you think of me as a scab, that is really your choice I won't argue.. just repeat that we live in a democracy

you are entitled to your decision True

and we need to stop worrying about what people think of us

i know!

I voted not to strike and I won't be. I don't think I am paid enough for what I do but I could go elsewhere for more money so it's a choice I have made. If it was a health and safety issue that would be a different matter. The strike hasn't even been discussed in my school as only 3 of us are in the union and one of those is away at the moment.