Children in schools across Northern Ireland face serious disruption today as up to 7,000 classroom assistants stage a one-day strike.
The strike over pay goes ahead after Education Minister Caitríona Ruane failed to get employers and unions to agree a deal at last ditch talks which ran late last night.
The industrial action is centred on a regrading dispute which has been running for 12 years. However, after 90 minutes of late night talks both sides appeared to be more optimistic of an agreement which could prevent a three day follow up strike planned for next week.
Confirming the strike was going ahead, the unions said more talks are to be held on Friday.
Most special schools are expected to be closed by the strike and mainstream schools are likely to shut at lunchtime.
The classroom assistants, members of Unison and NIPSA are engaged in the pay fight - part of a regrading structure throughout education boards - and many are expected to attend a rally and march in central Belfast at lunchtime.
More will mount pickets on the gates of dozens of schools across each of the five education board areas.
Mr Ruane has come under increasing pressure over her handling of the efforts to avert a strike after yesterday being summoned before the Stormont Assembly for the second time in two days to discuss it.
PA