A BOROUGH councillor has lobbied his county council counterparts in a fight against plans to slash the wages of school staff.

Cllr Ian Ormerod took part in the Unison-led demonstration outside County Hall in Chester on Thursday.

They're battling proposals to cut the wages of teaching assistants and non-teaching staff across the county by up to £2,000 a year.

There are also fears that the classroom assistants could have their full-time status downgraded to part-time.

Cllr Ormerod (Lab, Strawberry Fields) acknowledges he has a vested interest, as his daughter Joanne Graham is a teaching assistant at The Oaks Primary School in Stanney, but said: 'I'm speaking for everyone who teaches and works in schools in Ellesmere Port.

'People came to the demonstration from all over Cheshire and we lobbied the county councillors as they arrived.

'Myself and fellow borough councillor Mike McCusker are helping staff fight this all the way.'

Cllr McCusker (Lab, Whitby) said: 'This is a bad move. It is ludicrous to reduce their money as they play an important role.'

Linda Hands, education convener for Unison, said the county wants to reduce the wages of more than half the administration and clerical staff.

She said: 'Talks with the county regarding its Single Status proposal for staff have broken down.

'The council now looks set to implement the proposals.'

But county deputy leader and education executive member David Rowlands said: 'Even where some staff face a reduction in the long-term, they should not lose wages for three years.

'School workforce reforms will also give teaching assistants real improvements in career opportunities by widening their role in the classroom.'

Cllr Rowlands (Con, Mickle Trafford) said: 'We decided to improve the package further despite the failure of conciliation arranged by ACAS to settle outstanding differences between the unions and us.'