South and East Belfast Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

YOUTH PROVIDERS PAY UPGRADE WELCOMED

Published: 9 January, 2009

South Belfast Sinn Féin MLA Alex Maskey has welcomed confirmation from the Education Minister Caitríona Ruane that the pay band of youth providers is to be upgraded in line with recommendations made as part of a review in November 2007.


Alex Maskey MLA said,

"In November 2007 a review of pay and working conditions of staff of the Belfast Education and Library Board working in the area of youth provision found that the pay band of youth providers should be upgraded. However, almost a year after the recommendation many of these employees found themselves in the unacceptable situation of having not received their pay upgrade. This was despite the fact that the Department of Education had endorsed the findings of the review and had released extra funds to facilitate the pay upgrade.


"This issue had been raised with me by a number Education and Library Board employees. This issue had caused justifiable concern among staff and was having and adverse affect upon staff morale.


"I raised this issue directly with the Education Minister Caitríona Ruane, and I am pleased to have received confirmation from her that a business case for the pay upgrade has been approved by the Department if Finance and Personnel and that the Education and Library Boards have been informed of the approval and are commencing preparatory work to implement the revised pay structure".

CRÍOCH