YorkshireTeaching Assistant Wins At ET
Thursday 17th February
2011
EAST RIDING COUNCIL HIGHER
LEVEL TEACHING ASSISTANT WINS EMPLOYMENT TRIBUNAL AWARD DUE TO
FUNDING FOR HER JOB BEING
WITHDRAWN BY NEW TORY LIBERAL
GOVERNMENT IN JUNE 2010
It shows that decision making
at the highest levels is being driven by a desire for politically
motivated cuts which are targeted at vulnerable people
An Employment Tribunal has made an
award to a GMB member made redundant last year from her post as
higher level teaching assistant at East Riding Council when funding
for her post was cut.
GMB member Mrs Bridget Saltmer was
employed as an Advisory Higher Level Teaching Assistant in the East
Riding Council when the Tory Liberal Government came into power
last year. Michael Gove, Education Secretary, immediately pulled
the funding that supported Mrs Saltmer's seconded post. The
Education Secretary also backdated the cut to April 2010, when
actually the Government were not even in power.
To add insult to injury, East Riding
Council refused to pay Mrs Saltmer Redundancy Pay and also refused
compensation for failing to provide a Contract of Employment. GMB
sought legal advice and lodged an Employment Tribunal for Mrs
Saltmer.
East Riding Council subsequently
defaulted on the ET3 response. An Employment Judge issued a Default
Judgement. This finds in favour of Mrs Saltmer winning an award for
Redundancy and an award for failure to provide a Contract of
Employment.
Rachelle Wilkins GMB Regional Officer
said "Mrs Saltmer was absolutely heartbroken when she was
informed that the position she had worked so hard to attain was
being withdrawn due to cuts in the funding. The loss of her job led
to a loss of approximately £6,000 per year in Mrs Saltmer's annual
salary.
I am highly delighted that the
Tribunal has found in favour of Mrs Saltmer. In no way does
this make up for the heartbreak of losing her much loved job,
however, she feels now that justice has been done.
This once again highlights the
ill thought out actions of the Tory Liberal Government and the
Education Secretary, Michael Gove. It shows that decision
making at the highest levels is being driven by a desire for
politically motivated cuts which are targeted at vulnerable people.
This is nothing less than a complete and utter abuse of
power."
Ends
Contact: Rachelle
Wilkins GMB Regional Officer 01482 218018 or GMB Press Office:
Steve Pryle on 07921 289880 or Rose Conroy on 07974 25183