COUNCIL chiefs have made a fresh offer to disgruntled teaching assistants in a bid to resolve an increasingly bitter dispute over changes to their terms and conditions.

In revised proposals, seen by The Northern Echo, Durham County Council now says it will phase in its plans to pay teaching assistants term time only over three years, rather than introducing the changes in September.

However Helen Metcalf, a regional organiser with the union Unison, said the offer “does not appear to meet the aspiration of our members”.

It remains unclear whether the authority could simply impose a new contract on its 2,700 teaching assistants who are currently paid on a 52-week basis.

Ms Metcalf said: “We will discuss any new offer with our members and take their opinions on it. “When we have that information we will be in a position to respond to the council.

“It has to be said that while we appreciate that the council are willing to move on the issue, the offer does not appear to meet the aspirations of our members.”

A briefing note sent to councillors said compensation, in the form of lump sum payments, would continue to be offered and spread over the three year “phasing-in” period.

It said schools would offer 37 hours a week to teaching assistants where there is a business case to do so. This move would mean there would be no reduction in weekly wages.

All new teaching assistant appointments from September will work on a 37 hour per week/term time basis.

A further one month period of consultation will now begin.

A spokeswoman for the council said it did not wish to add anything to the councillors’ briefing.