Classroom assistants, bus drivers, catering staff, cleaners and other support workers have today walked out at hundreds of schools.
Four of the big unions have called the action in an escalating row over pay.
It has been estimated that up to 20,000 are expected to take part in the strike.
The Department of Education (DE) said it could not afford to increase wages on its current budget.
It has been estimated that up to 20,000 are expected to take part in the strike.
![Classroom assistants, bus drivers, catering staff, cleaners and other support workers are walking out at hundreds of schools.](https://www.newsletter.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjBiNGU4Y2NmLTJlOWYtNDA5OS1hNTE3LTM2NTg5ODRjNWUxMjpmYTRlYWE2MS00YjNmLTQ2YTMtYjA3ZC0yMzY4MzgxZGQzODE=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
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Classroom assistants, bus drivers, catering staff, cleaners and other support workers are walking out at hundreds of schools.Photo: ;resseye
![Workers strike at Strandtown PS School in Belfast as Schools across Northern Ireland are facing major disruption and possible closures on Thursday as thousands of non-teaching staff go on strike.](https://www.newsletter.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmY4N2Y5MjFkLWRlY2EtNDA4Zi1iYjQyLWNhMzE0OGEyNTc0MzowYzA4MzFlMS04NGRlLTRlZGEtODg5Yy0zMGJiODg4YWI0MzQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
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Workers strike at Strandtown PS School in Belfast as Schools across Northern Ireland are facing major disruption and possible closures on Thursday as thousands of non-teaching staff go on strike.Photo: pacemaker
![Four of the big unions have called the action in an escalating row over pay.](https://www.newsletter.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjU2NWFkNDQzLWVhNWUtNDU2MS05NGY3LTFmMWJkNDkwNmE0Yjo2OTQwMDZkYy02NjEwLTQwYTYtOTMzYy0yYTc5ZmVlMjI0MTI=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
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Four of the big unions have called the action in an escalating row over pay.Photo: presseye
![.A representative from one of the unions said 15,000 to 20,000 are expected to take part in Thursday's action.The Department of Education (DE) said it could not afford to increase wages on its current budget.](https://www.newsletter.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmUxYzhhOGM3LWNlODYtNGQ0Zi04YWYyLTdlOTEzMjk4NTRjOTplYzg1Mzk5NC05MDEzLTRjZDktOGZhMC05ZmUyYmUxMTE5YmY=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
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.A representative from one of the unions said 15,000 to 20,000 are expected to take part in Thursday's action.The Department of Education (DE) said it could not afford to increase wages on its current budget.Photo: presseye