CARMARTHENSHIRE — UNISON’s Carmarthenshire County Branch has officially launched a new campaign calling for Teaching Assistants (TAs) and school support staff to be paid for 52 weeks of the year, moving away from current term-time contracts.
Speaking on the opening day of the action, Matthew, Branch Chair of Carmarthenshire County UNISON, outlined the financial pressure many school support workers are experiencing:
“Basically, we’re handing out leaflets to get our TAs, who are paid for 39 weeks of the year, and we’re trying to get them to be paid, as a start of a campaign, to be paid for 52 weeks of the year,” Matthew explained. “A lot of our TAs are finding it really difficult at the moment to be paid on 39 weeks of the year, so that’s why we’re campaigning for the 52 weeks.”
Expanding Across Wales
While the leafleting drive began locally in Carmarthenshire, the initiative forms part of a wider effort being rolled out across the country.
“There seems to be quite good support for the campaign so far, but it’s very early, it’s the first day today that the campaign started,” Matthew noted. He added that the campaign is set to extend beyond local borders, with similar actions planned across all of Wales.
How to Support the Campaign
UNISON is urging members of the public, school staff, and supporters to back the campaign by scanning QR codes provided on campaign leaflets or by visiting the official campaign page online.
For more details or to sign the pledge, supporters can visit UNISON’s campaign page at: https://unison.org.uk/activity-pledge-council-and-schools-pay
