SCHOOLS across South Cheshire are facing industrial action as they reopen for the new term.

Some 1,200 members of local government trade union Unison are protesting at pay cuts arising from a new grading system.

Union bosses say that under proposals being imposed on staff by the county council most teaching assistants face pay cuts of around £2,000 per year.

In a secret ballot held in June, some 94 per cent of members voted in favour of industrial action.

This began at the end of summer and will now continue into the new school term, when it is expected to have a much bigger impact.

The industrial action involves staff working strictly to contracted hours, unless properly paid for extra work. It also involves refusing to cover for the absence of a teacher, except in emergencies.

Education convenor Linda Hands, who is a teaching assistant herself, said: "Teaching assistants are furious at the council's proposals to cut their pay, after years of taking on more and more responsibility.

"We have tried to persuade the council to revise their grading scheme, but they have taken no notice.

"Now we are withdrawing all the goodwill we have shown for years, and working in accordance with our contracts.

"If that doesn't persuade the council we will look to join with other council staff in taking strike action."

With members employed in practically every school across Cheshire, Unison is convinced that the industrial action will have a significant impact.

And there are already plans for a further ballot on strike action, while the union is also looking at balloting other groups of staff who are badly affected by the new grading scheme.

Unison spokesman Ray McHale added: "The proposals being imposed on us are robbing groups of low-paid women workers to pay small increases to even lower paid women workers.

"This will only be resolved when the council accepts it must find more money to settle this dispute."