'Cruel' letter suggests teaching assistant pay cut
BBCA letter sent to teaching assistants (TA) employed by a Nottingham-based school trust detailing a consultation on possible pay cuts has been described as "cruel".
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Multi-Academy Trust wrote to higher paid members of staff on 3 June about a proposal to standardise TA payments and roles.
It is not known how many people have received a copy of the letter, which details each individual's proposed annual pay reduction.
The trust, which manages 36 primary and secondary schools across Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire, said it faced "financial challenges" and "did not intend to cause any upset or anxiety", adding it had not made any decisions yet.
Emma Roberts, from Unison East Midlands, who is representing TAs at the trust, said the consultation came "out of the blue".
She added: "It's very unusual to give staff that level of uncertainty.
"What we would expect is for consultations to be done via the recognised trade unions and in a much more sensitive way."
The letter also details plans to introduce "consistent job descriptions, including duties and role requirements" for TAs across three different pay bands.
Ms Roberts confirmed there had been no formal proposal to change staff pay.
The trust was formed in 2018, and a spokesperson said TAs from several local authority areas on differing terms and conditions had joined.
They said the trust needed to establish "affordable, sustainable staffing structures".
The spokesperson added: "Many of the TAs who transferred are still employed on legacy terms and this means TAs doing the same job can be paid differently.
"We also have different job descriptions and arrangements in place when TAs cover teachers."
The spokesperson added the challenges had been shared with TAs and unions in an "informal way" to seek their feedback on suggestions for addressing them.
"Should a formal proposal be made, we would of course consult and follow a fair process," they added.
The consultation will run until 31 July.
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