STRIKING school support staff in Derbyshire begin a 24-hour vigil at noon today in protest against savage wage cuts of up to £6,000 a year.

Derby City Council ruled that vital teaching assistants should not be paid during school holidays, meaning that some members of staff have seen their wages slashed by 25 per cent.

A similar dispute in Durham ended when councillors withdrew planned cuts and agreed to implement a review.

But Derby City Council decided to go ahead with the cuts, claiming that its hand had been forced by Tory austerity measures.

This prompted strike action by members of union Unison which has staged multiple walkouts in schools across Derby since July.

Unison regional secretary Helen Black said: “This dispute has now dragged on for nine months. School support staff want to get back to doing the job they love without worrying about losing their homes.

“Neither do they want parents or pupils to have their lives and schooling disrupted any more.

“Many parents have been incredibly supportive of the school support staff, knowing all too well what a 25 per cent cut in wages would mean to them.

“The council should listen to their residents, settle the dispute, and allow school staff, pupils and their parents to put this behind them and get back to normal.”

Support staff will march through the city centre starting at 11.30am from Cathedral Green.

The vigil will take place between noon today and noon Tuesday outside the council’s offices at Derby City Council House, Corporation Street.