TUC Cymru called today for the creation of a Wales School Support Staff Negotiating Body to tackle in-work poverty among teaching assistants and end the problem of term-time-only pay.

Unison Cymru Wales secretary Jess Turner told conference: “You might be shocked to hear that there’s a school in Cardiff that operates a food bank for its own staff. In fact, one in six school support staff have told Unison that they have used a foodbank.

“Support staff are the biggest group of workers in schools… they are comparatively low paid, but what tips many over the edge is term-time-only pay — this is a scandal Unison argues is part of the historic undervaluing of what is seen as traditional women’s work.”

The Labour government brought in a School Support Staff Negotiating Body in the Employment Rights Act, but only within England as education is devolved. TUC Cymru has backed a motion calling for an equivalent body in Wales, with the same three recognised unions (GMB, Unison and Unite).