A FINANCIAL settlement of £1,500 has been won by an Accrington-based teacher who was short changed for her salary in a departmental reshuffle.

Heather Campbell, of Rochdale was working as an advice teacher helping schools across Lancashire with deaf pupils.

Her wages were reduced when Lancashire County Council Education Department delegated the staffing of central learning support services to individual schools.

The move meant that Miss Campbell was not given an allowance she was entitled to. Now lawyers working for the National Union of Teachers have won £1,500 of back pay for the teacher at an employment tribunal and had her salary restored to its original amount.

Miss Campbell said today: "I felt very aggrieved that my salary was being cut due to the reorganisation when I was doing the same work as before.

"I am pleased that I belong to a strong union that was able to provide excellent legal assistance for me."

Regulations require that when schools are reorganised a teachers's salary position is protected.

Lancashire County Council argues that these regulations did not apply to Miss Campbell because she was part of a centrally organised service.

But the employment tribunal agreed with the NUT, saying that employment at a teacher's centre was the same as any other educational establishment and should justify the same salary protection.

NUT regional solicitor Sarah Gill said: "This is further confirmation by the employment tribunal that our members who are employed in central services should be treated no less favourably than those in schools."

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said: "The application for unlawful reduction of pay hinged on the complex interpretation of an employee's terms and conditions of pay.

"It was after careful consideration of the facts that the tribunal made their decision in favour of an employee and we have fully accepted that decision."