Union calls for use of temporary engagement forms in Northen Ireland to be restricted and all school staff working temporary for four years to automatically made permanent

Unite has revealed statistics showing that 1,315 school transport and catering workers continue to be engaged on temporary forms by the education authority. Of that number, 267 have worked for more than four years in their roles despite Stormont’s own fixed-term workers’ regulations, which guarantee that after that a set period, workers are entitled to a permanent employment contract.

Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said, “Hundreds of school transport and catering staff are being denied basic employment rights and job security while being forced to work on temporary engagement forms .

“School support workers deserve better and this practice should be ended. As a first step those working more than four years on temporary forms must be automatically given permanent contracts and the rights that go with them.”

In May, Unite published statistics for classroom, general and nursery assistants which showed that 14,930 (68.4 per cent of the total) were engaged on temporary forms with 2,727 in place more than four years. Following that revelation education minister Paul Givan wrote to the union explaining that he had instructed the education authority to expedite processing of permanent contracts to those engaged temporarily for more than four years. He also committed to a wider review of the use of temporary engagement forms in the sector.

Unite regional officer Kieran Ellison said, “The commitment from the education minister to end this practice has not translated into action. With a new school term about to start, hundreds of school support workers face another year of precarious employment. Temporary engagement forms should never be viewed as a long-term solution and certainly not the default option.

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