TEACHING assistants are planning a third mass protest today in their continuing dispute with Durham County Council.

The council’s controversial decision to pay its 2,700 teaching assistants term-time only, rather than the current 52 weeks a year arrangement, was approved by members in May.

Protestors will gather at County Hall with a giant inflatable rat to hand over a letter of demands and a petition protesting against the decision they say will leave staff on inferior contracts with “23 per cent pay cuts for the vast majority”.

The latest protest follows a march at the Durham Miners’ Gala, which drew the support of union leaders, including the late general secretary of Durham Miners’ Association, Dave Hopper and Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn MP.

#ValueUs campaign organiser and higher level teaching assistant Lisa Turnbull, said: “As teaching assistants, we vehemently refute the council’s claim that we are currently paid for 52 weeks.

“This is a myth and there is evidence which shows that since the 1970s, teaching assistants have always been paid term-time only, but the amount was divided over 12 months. This fact is being conveniently ignored.”

She said the final consultation with staff closed yesterday and added: “If there is no further contact from the council, strike action will be inevitable when we return after the summer break.”

The council’s cabinet member for corporate services, Cllr Jane Brown, said: “All but one council regionally and many nationally have already changed to term-time pay for teaching assistants.

“Our proposals are aimed at providing fairness and parity across our workforce and ensuring that teaching assistants, like other council employees, are paid only for the hours they actually work.

“We have a legal responsibility to resolve this matter and have been in discussions with the unions and teaching assistants for many months and throughout the consultation process.

“Looking ahead we will continue to talk with unions and to clearly communicate the consultation outcome and any next steps to all those affected.”