In 1997, the Single Status Review was agreed at national level and details were passed down to the local councils.

In 2000, Brighton and Hove City Council placed Teaching Assistants (TAs) on a monthly-pay basis and our weeks paid were increased to 49.5.

In 2004, the Single Status Review has been undertaken and the weeks paid are to be reduced to 44-45.

Why, when the council already held the details of the review requirements, were our weeks paid increased to 49.5?

Prior to 2000, TAs received eight days' holiday pay and a 50 per cent retainer for, I believe, three weeks, which was paid half before the summer holiday and half following.

When monthly pay was introduced, why did no one think to check the review details and use the information therein?

Why are we expected to take a backward step in our terms and conditions when this review was meant to be an acknowledgement of our value to schools?

I have now asked these questions of both the review team and Mark Lamb, Director of Human Resources, but I have received no satisfactory replies. Maybe an Argus reader will be able to advise on the legality of the council's actions.

Further, eighteen months ago, I transferred a final salary pension into my council pension fund to boost it. If my weeks paid are reduced, I will have actually thrown this money away. Not only am I losing out now, I will also be worse off when I retire.

I feel let down and misled. The council is my employer but I am no longer able to trust them. In future, they could change our terms again. Where will it stop?

-Heather Collins, Hove