TEACHING assistants in County Durham are considering whether to strike after councillors voted to increase compensation in a bid to end a dispute over proposed contract changes.

Durham County Council agreed in May to change teaching assistants’ contracts so they will be paid during term-time only, which critics say will result in a pay cut of up to 23 per cent for some staff.

Following a negotiation, the council has now agreed to a “final offer” which will see the compensation period extended from one to two years.

Councillors voted in favour of the proposal by 59 votes to 13 at a meeting at County Hall today.

Cllr Jane Brown said if accepted, it would mean the vast majority of teaching assistants should see no reduction in earnings until April 2019.

She added: “This review of our teaching assistants’ terms and conditions has been a hugely difficult process but one that we had a legal responsibility to deal with. This brings us in line with the majority of other councils who have already addressed this issue.

“The simple facts are that continuing with the existing terms and conditions is not possible due to the significant inequality and the associated financial risks of equal pay claims from other council staff.”

Union members will now decide whether to accept the offer or strike, with results of the ballot expected by September 29.

Speaking after the meeting, teaching assistant Lynn Shaw, from Westlea Primary School in Seaham said: “It’s exactly what we thought was going to happen. We’re not happy and we are waiting for Unison to get us our ballots and we will be voting to strike. It’s not the end.”

Angela Bowyer, from Beechdale Nursery in Consett, said: “It’s rock-bottom for us. It’s morally wrong and we are disgusted.”

Opposition councillors described the offer, which will be withdrawn if rejected by teaching assistants, as “blackmail”.

Liberal Democrat Cllr Owen Temple said: “The offer of increased compensation, instead of being an olive branch, is actually a stick with which to threaten classroom assistants. If they don’t accept, the offer is withdrawn and the sackings go ahead. That is blackmail, pure and simple.”

An amendment tabled by independent councillor Alex Watson that changes should only apply to new staff was defeated by 54 votes to ten.