Schools in Northern Ireland could be set for further disruption as teachers are set to ballot on strike action before Christmas.
At least three unions will be involved in the vote on re-instating industrial action as their salaries again place teachers at the bottom of the UK profession’s pay league.
The news comes just a few months after a long running dispute over pay and conditions was ended as teachers accepted a resolution to their pay dispute.
The outcome of the ballot – set to take place before Christmas – could result in further strike action, according to the Ulster Teachers’ Union.
“Once again Northern Ireland teachers find themselves as the lowest paid members of the profession across these islands. It is disheartening to say the least,” said Jacquie White, General Secretary of the UTU.
“Despite promises from our politicians and decision makers to ensure our teachers are equally valued the marked lack of progress and commitment here on 2024-25 pay negotiations is causing grave concern.
“We call on the Minister to address this issue as a matter of priority, restore the pay to fair and equitable levels, and allow us to move forward.”
Jacquie White, General Secretary Ulster Teachers Union.
The ballot was announced today by three of the main unions – the UTU, NASUWT and INTO. A fourth union, the NEU has announced an indicative ballot of members in relation to the dispute.
“For too long the profession here seems to have been down-graded. Indeed it took years of campaigning and eventually strike action before our teachers received a pay deal which put them in line with their colleagues in GB,” continued Ms White.
“The fact that for some this represented an almost 25% salary increase shows just how far behind NI teachers’ pay had fallen and maybe because of that it seemed respect for teaching was lagging behind other degree level professions too.
“This pay deal was hard-fought and forced our members to take a stance on striking though many were reluctant to do so but when children’s education is suffering then something had to be done.
“Now that teachers’ pay elsewhere in GB has risen we again find ourselves at the back of line in the profession’s pay league.”
Industrial action over the past two years had seen schools close as teachers took strike action.
In April a formal offer on teachers’ pay for 2021, 2022 and 2023 had been accepted by Northern Ireland’s five main teaching unions.
The pay settlement agreed by the Teachers’ Negotiating Committee (TNC) included a rise in the starting salary for teachers in Northern Ireland to £30,000.
But concerns also remain over teacher workloads. A recent survey of the workforce from Think 1265 – a teacher led research group – showed that 93% of teachers said they cannot normally complete their work within school working hours.
Just over 90% said their working life was ‘stressful’ with 94.2% saying they would vote for action short of strike if the current situation failed to improve.
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Teaching union INTO said the decision to ballot for strike action was unanimously decided by its Committee. The union added it had no option but to seek a mandate for industrial action from the membership.
“This course of action has been forced upon INTO members following the failure of the employers and Department of Education [DE] to make a pay offer to teachers and School Leaders for the 2024/25 year, while teachers and school leaders in England receive a pay award of 5.5% for 2024/2025,” the union said.
INTO Northern Secretary Mark McTaggart added: “In March the education minister has made reference to the value of our teaching workforce and the importance of reflecting this through at least pay equivalence with other jurisdictions. Our most recent pay allocation brought us almost in line with teachers in England, the lowest paid of our counterparts, and we accepted this as a step towards pay equivalence.
“NITC requested a similar commitment from the education minister in relation to teacher’s pay but, despite this knowledge and awareness, he refused to commit to prioritising pay considerations for teachers.
“INTO therefore feel that at this point it has no option but to ballot members to resolve the issue of teachers pay.”
Mrs Geraldine McGowan, chair of the INTO Northern Committee, said there is now a real threat that all the good work done in ending the previous dispute will be undone.
“Teachers feel they have no option given the inaction by the employers and Department on the issue of pay. There is still time to prevent this dispute becoming a prolonged and damaging one threatening all the good work and improved relationships across the system.
“Consequently, we will be balloting teachers on strike and action short of strike from Monday November 25 to Monday December 16 seeking support to commence a campaign of industrial action up to and including strike action, if necessary. INTO members have demonstrated that they will take action when needed so that a strong message can be sent to the employers. INTO will not be found wanting.
“I have faith that our members will follow such action resolutely to a conclusion. It is now over to the employers and the Department of Education.”
The Department of Education has been contacted for comment.